tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176807472017-08-15T21:46:03.952+01:00Sleepypete's PillowMusings of a person who spends far too much time on computer games, outside of summer when I’m getting hit by cricket balls. There's a few more Sleepypete's out there, it's only me if you see the Dwagon.
<br><br>
I've sadly had to disable anonymous comments due to spam - there's an email address in my profile that you can use to contact me. Copyright - Rights to this work are protected under the Creative Commons licence - please let me know if you want to copy something.Sleepypetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11143274290029186546noreply@blogger.comBlogger1364125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17680747.post-38316658145587571012017-08-15T21:46:00.000+01:002017-08-15T21:46:03.990+01:00Back, tired and planning ....Back at work yesterday !<br /><br />Definitely appreciated having the break, I was more bouncy yesterday and definitely more with it. Before the break, I'd been struggling to keep up with everything that was going on. I don't like to be in that kind of condition because it means you're chasing what's going on instead of directing what's going on.<br /><br />Not that I direct too much in my position ! Need to move to somewhere I can influence new things going on.<br /><br />It's good getting out of the house again. I didn't feel the cabin fever too much last week (too busy with Internet Spaceships !) but I've been out and about both last night and tonight. Tired now though.<br /><br />Last night - initial thought was to see Spiderman Homecoming but I abandoned that due to leaving work a little earlier than intended combined with the traffic being bad. Shopping instead followed by one of the worst movies I've seen (new Ghostbusters, it's horrid). Tonight was a run up to the Mall for a general wander and checking out whether I could get a couple of techie supplies.<br /><br />The acquired - Lust For Life by Lana Del Rey and Once I Was An Eagle by Laura Marling. Should both be excellent albums.<br />The nearly acquired - LEGO !!! Smyths have a <a href="https://shop.lego.com/en-GB/CLAAS-XERION-5000-TRAC-VC-42054">Technic digger</a> for a silly discount (£90 instead of £130 for a kit with moving bits and motors.) I resisted. But I'm also very tempted by the <a href="https://shop.lego.com/en-GB/Air-Race-Jet-42066">Air Race Jet</a> and the <a href="https://shop.lego.com/en-GB/Ocean-Explorer-42064">Ocean Explorer</a>.<br />The can't find in Bristol - enough leads and adaptors to make my headset and mic work.<br /><br />I have a HyperX Cloud 2 headset which, in theory, would make it very easy to switch between headset and normal speakers. The headset plugs into a USB widget, which plugs into the PC. Plugging in the USB widget switches it to headset, unplugging sends the noise back to the speakers. But .... there is a software clash somewhere (could be a bunch of sources) that is stopping the microphone level going above 0. The microphone works but is far too quiet.<br /><br />Solution - don't use the USB widget and plug it into separate sockets. Scan will sell me an adaptor and cables to make that happen.<br /><br />Why do this ? I wanna try my hand at making videos. I'd start with occasional Elite videos. The game is actually pretty boring to watch (cathartic and relaxing to play though) so I'd make a mix of : Talking into Take off, heavily compressed travel, talking into landing. It has very pretty visuals and those visuals work much better when they're actually moving around ....<br /><br />I definitely want to have something ready by the time I get my little spaceship to Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the centre of the galaxy. Or to the Great Annihilator system which I plan to go to first. That's a pair of much smaller black holes, which are still scary because you drop out of the hyperspace much closer to one. I even have the music picked out - I reckon I can make <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhchfhxvPKI">Candyland</a> fit right in with what I want to do for that first video. It's a happy tune that I first heard gracing the HeyChrissa streams as chair boppy warm up music.<br /><br />Ooo - I mentioned spaceships again and I haven't posted any pictures yet ...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XBPaPvoSDYY/WZNVoATxuLI/AAAAAAAAD-4/J4NJtehYKToD-E1laZIL_pnO85v533k_ACLcBGAs/s1600/Red%2BSky%2BAt%2BNebula.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XBPaPvoSDYY/WZNVoATxuLI/AAAAAAAAD-4/J4NJtehYKToD-E1laZIL_pnO85v533k_ACLcBGAs/s400/Red%2BSky%2BAt%2BNebula.png" width="400" /></a></div>I haven't been back into the game since Sunday (no plans to tonight - tired) but that's where I left the JMS. It's Sacaqawea Space Port, just under halfway there to the core.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IUh7KBKwErU/WZNWipa6vZI/AAAAAAAAD_A/pvr55uaGjTwXqz-5pHfZDJI7hApoWl_AgCLcBGAs/s1600/Sacaqawea%2Bstop%2Boff.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="815" data-original-width="1451" height="223" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IUh7KBKwErU/WZNWipa6vZI/AAAAAAAAD_A/pvr55uaGjTwXqz-5pHfZDJI7hApoWl_AgCLcBGAs/s400/Sacaqawea%2Bstop%2Boff.png" width="400" /></a></div>And that's the map for how far I've got so far. The perspective is a bit odd with that.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jvp90vAj3ms/WZNWz_BV5uI/AAAAAAAAD_E/xaYbkap9zdw37IaCtEefbYArqbGnCataACLcBGAs/s1600/Basking%2BToday.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jvp90vAj3ms/WZNWz_BV5uI/AAAAAAAAD_E/xaYbkap9zdw37IaCtEefbYArqbGnCataACLcBGAs/s400/Basking%2BToday.png" width="400" /></a></div>That's how it looks from the inside, skimming a sun to top up on fuel, basking in the rays, toasting marshmallows on the consoles.<br /><br />The video making is a new skill I'd like to try out and learn. I'm rubbish at drawing, which frustrates that part of what seems to be a creative instinct hidden within me. I can do the picture editing and come up with what I hope is entertaining writing. Haven't tried speaking and video yet. There are a few blockers though :<br /><br />Hardware and the mic - need to get that microphone working ... but that's easy.<br />Hardware and the PC - I'd want more hard disc space as a minimum but the i5-2500k with 8GB of memory that I'm currently on is almost certainly insufficient for video editing.<br />Software - I'm looking at Sony Vegas, the pros seem to like this.<br />Time - for every 15 minutes of gaming video you see on Youtube, it probably needed at least double that to film it plus at least double again to edit it and clean it up to a point where the creator is content that other people can be allowed to see it.<br /><br />It's the time and energy thing that intervene most, as like tonight, I simply don't have the energy or interest in firing up a game for entertainment let alone what would be a second job.<br /><br />There's another thing with doing the youtube videos, I might well be about a year too late. There had been an explosion of people making videos for youtube but that's changing to the youtube people gradually doing more and more with services like Twitch streaming as youtube's advertising model becomes less ... lucrative ? Lucrative is the wrong word because not many youtube people are particularly rich. Most are struggling to get by, with developments with advertising this year making it even tougher. Twitch gives a more reliable money stream but .... you can only watch one Twitch stream, it's live and you can't really hold the video back for when it's convenient for YOU to watch it.<br /><br />Nope. Not gonna give up the day job to suddenly start making gaming videos. Although I think it would be fun.<br /><br />And it would give me a chance to show with pictures and spoken word what gets me excited in the games. Written word doesn't really cut it there I believe.<br /><br />And you can hear the edge in the voice with games like XCom2, which has an expansion coming out which looks like it could be amazing. But not yet because it's too rich for my blood at the moment. It'll get cheaper and I have Elite to be addicted to before then.<br /><br />And real life stuff too ! I'm not going to go see our new aircraft carrier arrive in person. Maybe if it were Friday but it's been brought forward to tomorrow morning ... At 7.10am ! Does such a time exist ? :-D. If I'm alive early enough tomorrow morning I may watch a streaming video of it.<br /><br />So that's another project to add to the book writing (not forgotten that, although writing it would dredge up too much familiarity with some of the horrible things happening in the world at the moment).<br /><br />Oh - some really bad singing might happen with the videos ... like "We're all flying in a yellow rocket ship, a yellow rocket ship, a yellow rocket ship".<br /><br />You have been warned :-DSleepypetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11143274290029186546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17680747.post-69956543441348390042017-08-12T21:50:00.001+01:002017-08-12T21:50:38.058+01:00On a tripMore Elite !<br /><br />I've been enjoying my time back in the game since resetting (as I've said a few times). Well, mostly enjoying. Sometimes it feels like a job, working to a goal instead of enjoying the trip to that goal.<br /><br />The mining was definitely feeling like work, although that's pretty much done now (There's another engineer who wants stuff you get from mining). The combat was feeling a bit like work too, there are certain places in the game where bad guys gather but there's also a certain random element to what bad guys appear. Plus I'm not in the class of ship yet where I can happily take on all comers with a good chance of success.<br /><br />But I'm still enjoying it. Not much holiday left actually - I'll be back at work on Monday. Not all healed up but in a lot better condition than I was before the week off started. It's getting there, slowly, although I still have to be very careful to not make the condition go backwards rapidly. My outsides are still very delicate, so it's quite easy to attack the half healed wreckage of my ankles and set the healing back.<br /><br />It's getting closer though.<br /><br />Pictures of spaceships time !<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6jXt9bKLtks/WY9hmBIalsI/AAAAAAAAD94/Rej7IN2im348ccjmB27LKClXpD4kF-gXACLcBGAs/s1600/Nebula%2Bover%2BAmundsen.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6jXt9bKLtks/WY9hmBIalsI/AAAAAAAAD94/Rej7IN2im348ccjmB27LKClXpD4kF-gXACLcBGAs/s400/Nebula%2Bover%2BAmundsen.png" width="400" /></a></div>That's where I've settled the ship down for the night. It's Amundsen Terminal in the Lagoon Nebula. The tiny ship on a very large landing pad is a Diamondback Explorer, which has had a fair bit of attention from the ship customising people. When I took a ship to the galactic core a couple of years ago, that ship could do 35 light years to a jump. This one does 54 ... That speeds things up a fair bit. Every 1000 light year leg I was doing took 34-36 jumps last time, this time it's 20 maximum. (The exact course isn't a straight line because you're jumping from star to star ... and they aren't conveniently lined up !)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FfVJv0Bpb0Y/WY9iveDX5fI/AAAAAAAAD-E/lx9fmhJam08CeQaa2obPVT4g5ochDDiWwCLcBGAs/s1600/To%2Bthe%2Bcore.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="1600" height="196" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FfVJv0Bpb0Y/WY9iveDX5fI/AAAAAAAAD-E/lx9fmhJam08CeQaa2obPVT4g5ochDDiWwCLcBGAs/s400/To%2Bthe%2Bcore.png" width="400" /></a></div>That's the plan at the moment. Start off in the Populated systems, jump between Colonia outposts on the way out to the galactic core and race back along the galactic arm you'll see on the left. I'll add a link to the route map on the right. And ... <a href="https://www.edsm.net/en/user/travel-map/id/12446/cmdr/Keela+Danne">here's the link for here</a> ! That green line will steadily grow as I do more of the journey.<br /><br />It's curious though. Game playing can vary wildly in whether the experience is actually fun or tedious. I was finding the mining tedious. And the combat between fights when I was looking for another ship I could take on. I've given up on several gaming video series lately because I was finding the game they were playing tedious to watch despite the efforts of the presenters. Sometimes the game seems designed to frustrate, not purely out of bad mechanics but out of making the game awkwardly stupidly silly hard. I gave up on Battlefleet Gothic early because the mechanics of most of the fights were just annoying.<br /><br />And if you're not enjoying something, it's time to do something different. The game I'm listening to HeyChrissa play at the moment just sounds so annoying (Evil Within) due to looking like it's designed to frustrate instead of enjoy. It's not one I'd play.<br /><br />In Elite's case, it's taking doses of the game of sufficient length to enjoy but not burn out on.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kpMJQcCQ23Y/WY9kKXcH0UI/AAAAAAAAD-Q/12I_uoIOfA8MyJzoLZrFLyNh46if_8JvwCLcBGAs/s1600/Nebula%2BView.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kpMJQcCQ23Y/WY9kKXcH0UI/AAAAAAAAD-Q/12I_uoIOfA8MyJzoLZrFLyNh46if_8JvwCLcBGAs/s400/Nebula%2BView.png" width="400" /></a></div>And it's pretty.<br /><br />In the game, sights like the one above of the Lagoon Nebula are generated as you jump by the game. It checks what's around you and generates what's called a skybox (spacebox?) that is quite eerie and beautiful. At 4,500 light years from the populated areas, I'm starting to see more stars in the backdrop as I'm moving out of a relative gap between galactic arms and the star density goes up as you enter the core regions. And then there's that nebula ...<br /><br />(As per usual, click for bigger on the pictures).<br /><br />I'm up to 15 out of 31 ships now, starting to slow down but still rattling through them. The speed bump comes from being able to afford the new ship and fit it out to the point where it excels at the job, that gets much more expensive with the bigger ships.<br /><br />The other two were a pair of cheap fighters :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p6aYF7FGXHk/WY9lwzDApOI/AAAAAAAAD-c/K7GioYJUxA0roJWayN3NoEJKlKrD4H5ngCLcBGAs/s1600/Niks%2BHammer%2B1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p6aYF7FGXHk/WY9lwzDApOI/AAAAAAAAD-c/K7GioYJUxA0roJWayN3NoEJKlKrD4H5ngCLcBGAs/s400/Niks%2BHammer%2B1.png" width="400" /></a></div>Nik is a mod for HeyChrissa, that's the Viper class ship called Nik's Hammer. One thing about naming the ships like this, it definitely adds something to being invested in keeping those ships alive and enjoying flying them and giving them a purpose. Even when the ship itself just isn't very good. So the Diamondback Scout (a pretty bad ship) will be the Pilgrim, making trips to places like Fisher's Rest and Pratchett's Disc. I was going to name the other Viper over Chrissa's other main mod (and a keen Elite player) but had better ideas.<br /><br />Meet - Space Viking :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LeCQvytmmWM/WY9mrCde81I/AAAAAAAAD-k/f7fJFcBlIKQAcej0mB22uWezREZD6rzlgCLcBGAs/s1600/Space%2BViking%2B3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LeCQvytmmWM/WY9mrCde81I/AAAAAAAAD-k/f7fJFcBlIKQAcej0mB22uWezREZD6rzlgCLcBGAs/s400/Space%2BViking%2B3.png" width="400" /></a></div>Yeah - it's very much like the other Viper isn't it ... I didn't enjoy flying this one much to be honest, although that's because I gave it too many lasers and not enough cannons.<br /><br />And the ship for the trip to the galactic core is :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sZRgFKGQec8/WY9m_72fS-I/AAAAAAAAD-o/8cTzOROzf4UTufPq4bMtF8nF3DE0ggYCgCLcBGAs/s1600/Fly%2Bit%2Blike%2Byou%2Bstole%2Bit.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sZRgFKGQec8/WY9m_72fS-I/AAAAAAAAD-o/8cTzOROzf4UTufPq4bMtF8nF3DE0ggYCgCLcBGAs/s400/Fly%2Bit%2Blike%2Byou%2Bstole%2Bit.png" width="400" /></a></div>Something appears to have gone wrong with that name ... (I had an idea that I couldn't resist !)<br /><br />Yep. I've had a chilled out week off, I should be pretty much ready to head back into work on Monday if I can get decent sleep ! My sleep pattern gets disrupted on holiday especially when I don't do enough to get tired. I've been going to bed at reasonable times (cough - occasional 2am - cough oops) but not falling asleep. Need to figure out something for that.<br /><br />So yep - not perfect yet, not healed yet ... but in better shape than this time last week. Just gotta keep up the discipline and not disrupt the partially healed bits of me that actually do want to get better.<br /><br />Plans for next week ? I want to see our aircraft carrier whenever she makes her way down south. That should be an incredible sight. Haven't seen Spiderman Homecoming yet. First ever day-night Test Match starts on Thursday. Been enjoying watching the cricket on the telly this week. It's odd actually, I've almost cleared the tv box of recorded stuff ! I'm just not recording much new at the moment - Dark Matter, Killjoys, Deadliest Catch and Mountain Men ... but no dailies like I'd usually be recording.<br /><br />Need to do more reading actually !Sleepypetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11143274290029186546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17680747.post-91204373041868966752017-08-08T23:36:00.000+01:002017-08-08T23:36:06.243+01:00Continuing those voyagesI've been enjoying my chilled out week at home and away from work so far.<br /><br />There has been a lot of Elite played so far. Perhaps a little too much ! It has been an excellent accompaniment to some outstanding cricket on the telly too. The Test series between England and South Africa has turned out very one sided in the result but it's actually been far more even than that in the performances on the field.<br /><br />A good series all round, with England coming out winners by taking more advantage of the skills they have and the conditions they played in. The South Africans summed it up pretty well by saying that the games were even, except for when an England player stepped up and took the game away from them. Like Moeen Ali through the series with runs and wickets. He's not the best player we've had for England ? But he's very lucky and sometimes one of our best talents is actually luck.<br /><br />I think what I really mean to say there is that some players can rise above the skill and talent level they have and perform far beyond that. (I was probably the opposite, especially with the bat !) He's outbowled Liam Dawson and Adil Rashid consistently and they're both supposed to be main spinners.<br /><br />Cricket is like that. Skill counts for a lot but if you have a certain amount of luck, then that helps a lot. And you can make your own luck in the game too.<br /><br />Enough about cricket ! I will admit that I didn't notice yesterday's play going by too much due to having it as the backdrop to some mining ... One thing I'm trying to do with this character is to unlock everything. With the previous character, I played a more optimal style, which led to flying just three ships a lot : Asp Explorer for long range stuff, Python for trading and some combat and the Imperial Cutter for trading. That got boring fast. This time around, I'm looking to own and usefully fly every ship and unlock all of the engineers (people who improve your ships).<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3TYRLYBmso0/WYoz8ulAbbI/AAAAAAAAD9E/_7a_V6xmdPgKgJleCxDSo3DZmJ0zM-c0QCLcBGAs/s1600/Sunrise%2Bby%2BSirius.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="957" data-original-width="1600" height="238" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3TYRLYBmso0/WYoz8ulAbbI/AAAAAAAAD9E/_7a_V6xmdPgKgJleCxDSo3DZmJ0zM-c0QCLcBGAs/s400/Sunrise%2Bby%2BSirius.png" width="400" /></a></div>That's O'Brien Vision, an outpost that sits above the planet in the Sirius system where one of those engineers lives. This one took a bit of work ... But work that sees the character advance. I think what really broke me in the last play through were the weeks where I'd have the character sat in the station rolling through missions where you'd donate money in return for rank. (I was watching HeyChrissa streams at the same time).<br /><br />The star off to the right that lights up the scene (and incidentally lowers the contrast level for the rest !) is Lucifer, a white dwarf star which is the companion to Sirius. (Actually modeled from the real stars, although the name Lucifer is an invention of the game). It makes you pay attention on the trip out there to hear "Warning - elevated radiation detected". The white dwarf and neutron stars throw off particle streamers that both damage the ship and hyper its hyperdrive. You can take advantage of that to go places quickly and I may try the Neutron Star Highway at some point to speed up a trip to the galactic core.<br /><br />But not yet. This weekend's activities have been :<br /><br />Starting off a scouting run in the Dorothy Drake :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sj8sj2F03RA/WYOE_f-dPWI/AAAAAAAAD8o/kqv_jp2bHqcxgnEVlNfBhRFLy3BVHXRBQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Dorothy%2BDrake.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sj8sj2F03RA/WYOE_f-dPWI/AAAAAAAAD8o/kqv_jp2bHqcxgnEVlNfBhRFLy3BVHXRBQCPcBGAYYCw/s400/Dorothy%2BDrake.png" width="400" /></a></div>That run incidentally went towards making one of those engineers like me. I'll do another, longer run later in the week to make another engineer like me.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gt35gR1m1co/WYo1pq5KxnI/AAAAAAAAD9Q/bwv6lEvojIE4PrM9ICQvEZYUigfgKcGzACLcBGAs/s1600/Job%2Bopening%2Bwindow%2Bcleaner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gt35gR1m1co/WYo1pq5KxnI/AAAAAAAAD9Q/bwv6lEvojIE4PrM9ICQvEZYUigfgKcGzACLcBGAs/s400/Job%2Bopening%2Bwindow%2Bcleaner.png" width="400" /></a></div>Those trips do take a toll though. Could do with someone cleaning the windows.<br /><br />The latest ship is the Art Burke, one of those space trucks. However, this time I figured the Keelback, which is a ship which is an unholy combination of space truck and fighter, could be put to good use as a mining ship. It got a few kills as well from pirates wanting to interrupt the mining. Mining is definitely not something I'd want to do too much of in Elite, although when I found a good place (Google shows you places that will tell you where !), I got what I wanted fairly painlessly and profitably. But never again - haha.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UcFl2dQ4WQw/WYo2o71dP9I/AAAAAAAAD9c/vyM2_XIS6ss8fcEz9-TR5sflkjEbU6mwgCLcBGAs/s1600/Arty%2BMining.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UcFl2dQ4WQw/WYo2o71dP9I/AAAAAAAAD9c/vyM2_XIS6ss8fcEz9-TR5sflkjEbU6mwgCLcBGAs/s400/Arty%2BMining.png" width="400" /></a></div>That's the Art Burke with a faithful collector limpet drone going off to fetch more bits of asteroid to turn into stuff to sell.<br /><br />Definitely enjoying the time back in game again, living in that imaginary capacity as an independent starship captain, free to set his own course amongst the stars, seeing as many of them as possible. And the places to go look pretty too :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JzGWpcC5FLM/WYo6ABtFkEI/AAAAAAAAD9o/kbKulcTQruoC0e_G4Cc2BfUPzYmHRfKbQCLcBGAs/s1600/Kennicott.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JzGWpcC5FLM/WYo6ABtFkEI/AAAAAAAAD9o/kbKulcTQruoC0e_G4Cc2BfUPzYmHRfKbQCLcBGAs/s400/Kennicott.png" width="400" /></a></div>One thing I didn't do much of in the previous character was the planetary landing aspect of the game. By the time that came along, I was using docking computers pretty much all the time. I haven't quite got to that point yet ... (It takes up space which is far better spent taking cargo)<br /><br />I've had a few more ideas for ships too. I have no idea what I'll use a Diamondback Scout for (it's a pretty rubbish ship) but I think instead of doing "It's a long way there", swapping to "It's a long way back", I'll build a Diamondback Explorer ship and call it "Stolen from Jms". That's an in joke in honour of the people in the gaming communities. That means his Viper will need a new name, that'll be the "Salty Cracker".<br /><br />I suspect I'll be interested in the new Community Goals that will appear on Thursday, which will see a queue of 6 combat ships take turns ... And a 7th which will be the bigger freighter. But I have other scoot around the galaxy schemes to go through as well :<br /><br />Rares and smuggling - to unlock another engineer;<br />More scouting along the Road to Riches - for a bunch more engineers (and the credits);<br />A big long rares route - which I developed before the reset and never actually did ...<br /><br />And it helps distract away from the real life. (Except for the cricket, I want to pay attention to that).<br /><br />My outsides have been fairly neutral so far this week, although that's mostly down to how much damage there is. It's taking time to repair but it is repairing given the chance.<br /><br />There's what's happening in the world as well at the moment. Sometimes you do think to yourself : "Stop the world I wanna get off". And for that, there is the escape into the fantasy game which helps you ignore that real world for a little while.<br /><br />Definitely some crazy stuff happening at the moment, which I won't bore you with here cos you're probably sick of it from the news already. I'd like to make the trip to Portsmouth over the next week or so to welcome our new aircraft carrier home though.<br /><br />More chill out time before then though.<br /><br />Commander Sleepy - signing off for now !Sleepypetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11143274290029186546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17680747.post-77553663218840083632017-08-03T21:30:00.000+01:002017-08-03T21:30:01.185+01:00Almost relax timeJust one more day of work until sleep for the week !<br /><br />I feel like I well need it. I'm drained to levels I don't think I've felt before. I am repairing though, which is good and that's another objective of next week if I can leave the damage alone long enough for it to heal ! Good signs though.<br /><br />It will be good to be able to resume heading out at the slightest excuse, that needs a little preplanning at the moment. But ... it's definitely getting there and being lazy next week should help more too.<br /><br />What's the plan ?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BaBLv3nWRRY/WYOCmBt7ToI/AAAAAAAAD8Q/khko1Qm2jSk_snvcp6FsykOIyXxviiyYQCLcBGAs/s1600/1978838_10151978416867555_1170922164_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="720" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BaBLv3nWRRY/WYOCmBt7ToI/AAAAAAAAD8Q/khko1Qm2jSk_snvcp6FsykOIyXxviiyYQCLcBGAs/s320/1978838_10151978416867555_1170922164_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Cricket watching - definitely. The 4th Test vs South Africa starts tomorrow and while I'll miss most of tomorrow's play, I fully intend to watch the rest of the game. And the domestic T20 games too. Wonder if there are any nearby games to go see too. The best prospect there is Worcester, although Hampshire has potential too, as does Taunton. I refuse to watch the most local games with Gloucestershire due to how they treated the works team.<br /><br />(We used them for preseason practice for a couple of years and then they just stopped taking our calls and refused to let us use the nets again - no reason given).<br /><br />There will be much music listened to and perhaps a few more albums will appear ... I have my eye on Ed Sheeran's latest, Lisa Hannigan and Agnes Obel for albums out there that I want but aren't in my library yet.<br /><br />Much gaming will happen. Hopefully my Archer racing team will soon be in a position to repeat this without it being a freak :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z-FPQf1hvLY/WYODknWGAvI/AAAAAAAAD8Y/Vy2tl3CNB40NaJT5W05Kiqh14fqXu0aZgCLcBGAs/s1600/20170803191715_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z-FPQf1hvLY/WYODknWGAvI/AAAAAAAAD8Y/Vy2tl3CNB40NaJT5W05Kiqh14fqXu0aZgCLcBGAs/s400/20170803191715_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>That's my two boys taking advantage of the AI having difficulty deciding what tyres to use in the wet. We're usually finishing around 8th to 12th at the moment although the team is catching up. It's Motorsport Manager, which is a game I've hugely enjoyed playing since I got it.<br /><br />There will be lots of space game playing ... Both from :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KH5Zdg4y4_c/WYOEEclS_eI/AAAAAAAAD8c/OYhHU-wp3IQfetTvh_7TdCqDtSPu6YbzQCLcBGAs/s1600/IceBrick.ship.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KH5Zdg4y4_c/WYOEEclS_eI/AAAAAAAAD8c/OYhHU-wp3IQfetTvh_7TdCqDtSPu6YbzQCLcBGAs/s320/IceBrick.ship.png" width="320" /></a></div>Cosmoteer, which I've started playing and will definitely put more time into. My fleet currently consists of the IceBrick interceptor, a simple craft with two big lasers, two little lasers, a couple of shields and lots of engines. It has a long way to go and develop. But like Cosmoteer, it's a hugely promising beginning.<br /><br />Of course there will be time in Elite :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-UCwy_OPUQ/WYOEjdNrSJI/AAAAAAAAD8g/XE441p5IdlsJUlOcei-XtwAfWPYQeVHFgCLcBGAs/s1600/MiniPotato.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-UCwy_OPUQ/WYOEjdNrSJI/AAAAAAAAD8g/XE441p5IdlsJUlOcei-XtwAfWPYQeVHFgCLcBGAs/s400/MiniPotato.png" width="400" /></a></div>That's my workhorse ship, Chrissa's Potato along with its rover, the Pea. Yep. Pea and Potato had an amazing ring to it. The buildings in the top right are from an abandoned mining base which just happens to have lots of materials that the engineers want in return for big upgrades .... That was a profitable shopping trip.<br /><br />I'm now in the Dorothy Drake :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sj8sj2F03RA/WYOE_f-dPWI/AAAAAAAAD8k/Q44s2543gHMeIcmCP_vFJ2GjW6ZbvtpBwCLcBGAs/s1600/Dorothy%2BDrake.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sj8sj2F03RA/WYOE_f-dPWI/AAAAAAAAD8k/Q44s2543gHMeIcmCP_vFJ2GjW6ZbvtpBwCLcBGAs/s400/Dorothy%2BDrake.png" width="400" /></a></div>It's another Asp, like the Explorer above ... but this one is the inferior Scout variant. One of the challenges in this run through is to own all of the ships ... but I'd feel cheap if I didn't use them for some good purpose. This one will be following the Road To Riches, which is a list of very high value exploration targets. I'll be hitting that over the next week and it might push the character a long way towards getting a first Elite.<br /><br />It'll also help with the engineers ... The Asp above should jump up to 29 light years at best but with the almost-the-best (not unlocked best yet) modifications, it's reaching 41. That speeds up the exploration and travel a fair bit.<br /><br />Why Dorothy Drake ?<br />Dorothy - after she who followed the Yellow Brick Road, in this case the Road To Riches<br />Drake - after the famous explorer who brought back the potato.<br /><br />I've really enjoyed coming back into Elite and having real progress. It feels so much faster this time around and I keep getting that sense of getting things done. Like my time spent in game is seeing real progress. Which it is. Most of that it down to knowing how to game the game, how to get the best trading and what's effective. Early on, it was doing lots of missions for early money. Currently, it's running clusters of missions for ranking. I've been contributing to community goals for huge boosts in money and now the character is ready for it, the next step is to really boost that exploration.<br /><br />Not a run to the centre of the yet, that'll be for when I have the top tier high value ships. I had another idea for that, to run two ships. One to get to the outposts near the centre, one to come back. The one going there would be called "It's a long way there" and the other "It's a long way back". Fits my strange sense of humour. Not yet though and the ship I use will be different.<br /><br />Hopefully I think of a decent name for it by then ! (Anaconda cruiser built for hugely long range jumping)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FzOgUZOxadU/WYOHpg4nGII/AAAAAAAAD8w/34GKVMf7mVceSHAgvKmdHBtlnIKXWfDwACLcBGAs/s1600/CVztE9vXIAEAUZd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FzOgUZOxadU/WYOHpg4nGII/AAAAAAAAD8w/34GKVMf7mVceSHAgvKmdHBtlnIKXWfDwACLcBGAs/s320/CVztE9vXIAEAUZd.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Maybe even build one of them in Lego too.<br /><br />One more day of work to go tomorrow and the work-ish mob will be watching the film Valerian after too. I'll watch a few more blurays on the week off and I really must read Revenger at some point.<br /><br />Looking forward to a chilled out week off !Sleepypetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11143274290029186546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17680747.post-60065894069441741892017-07-31T21:19:00.000+01:002017-07-31T21:19:30.280+01:00Space .... and an appeal ...Yep ! More internet spaceships. But a bit more later too about a friend.<br /><br />I suspect it's showing that I've been enjoying my time back in Elite since restarting the character ... I've definitely been in the game a lot (albeit in short-ish doses befitting my current attention span) and that's in comparison to spending a few months away from it after completing the preparations for the April Fools post.<br /><br />I suspect the Plan this time is better. And that's to eventually own every ship in the game, trying them all out, instead of ignoring most of them and just driving up to the big ones. Who knows, the keenness to play may evaporate at some point as I find something different. Like going back to the game that pushed me back to Elite ! That'd be Bounty Train.<br /><br />So what did I do at the weekend ? Outside of watching the cricket that is ! Well done to England again today. Great win and hopefully I'll watch almost 5 days of great cricket starting from Friday (the almost is because I'll be working in the morning on Friday).<br /><br />I'm organising my time in Elite a fair bit around the weekly community goals. This time around the community goals were first to bring lots of rare booze to a station in the Harma system and the second was to protect the people bringing in the booze. So a trading run and a combat run and an excuse to try out a little fighter or two :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xn6HIyPuSyw/WX-HXoU6qsI/AAAAAAAAD7o/O0epdN3xqlwtfcbQaCZ_p996i7cuerUeQCLcBGAs/s1600/Katherine%2BOf%2BSpace.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xn6HIyPuSyw/WX-HXoU6qsI/AAAAAAAAD7o/O0epdN3xqlwtfcbQaCZ_p996i7cuerUeQCLcBGAs/s400/Katherine%2BOf%2BSpace.png" width="400" /></a></div>That's the Imperial Eagle ship called Katherine Of Space and I'll come back later to why the little fighter has that name. (Ha ! First pic becomes the thumbnail for the post and that's the thumbnail this post needs !)<br /><br />The first fighter was an Eagle ship called the Elizabeth Sparrow after one of the more memorable characters on the HeyChrissa discord chat server. A name from a little fighter definitely befitting a little fighter.<br /><br />I enjoyed taking the two ships out for a spin, although I was learning a little about handling them in flight too. Elite works partly on Newtonian physics, so if you Go Very Fast in a particular direction, you stay going Very Fast in that direction until the thrusters compensate. One idea I have is to turn off what's called Flight Assist in game to let me quickly flip around to bring the guns to bear. Doesn't quite work like that .... Because you end up several km away (and out of gun range) and moving further away.<br /><br />Need to learn better space combat tactics.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6MYfhsh3T5A/WX-IlVvxODI/AAAAAAAAD7w/Hn2_yV1l-S0tWrTkDgb8wUkts0GhyU4SQCLcBGAs/s1600/Elizabeth%2BSparrow.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6MYfhsh3T5A/WX-IlVvxODI/AAAAAAAAD7w/Hn2_yV1l-S0tWrTkDgb8wUkts0GhyU4SQCLcBGAs/s400/Elizabeth%2BSparrow.png" width="400" /></a></div>That's the Elizabeth, which joined the growing fleet at the weekend. I now have 10 of the 31 that players can buy and the in game cash is coming together to buy a lot of those remaining. The community goals help a lot with that ...<br /><br />But that's gaming. Gaming's fake. It's not real life.<br /><br />It can be good to effectively hide in the gaming though. When I'm in the game, I'm only thinking about the next trade stop, I'm in the second to second of staying alive in combat, finding the next target and trying not to bite off more than I can chew. Where I'll be exploring next.<br /><br />I'm not thinking of the state of my outsides or all the other problems I have. The gaming is an escape.<br /><br />Which brings me back to the Katherine Of Space ... Why that name ?<br /><br />It started as a tribute to KatherineOfSky, who is one of those lovely gaming people. Perhaps a clutching at a straw for finding names. Maybe.<br /><br />But it's gone on from there as I remember a Katherine that was and a Kate that is. Katherine was someone lovely who used to be in the same team as me, who had a small smile that I still remember. I mirror people and how they feel and when walking past Katherine on the way to grab a coffee, if a smile was seen from the Katherine then it made me feel so much better.<br /><br />Katherine was lost to us due to breast cancer a few years ago and inspired my Pink Hat cricket tribute where I wore that Pink Hat for a season of cricket. I thought about attaching charity collecting to that but ... I'm just too frail to support that. But it did inspire lots of questions, which I answered with memories of someone lovely. Here's the pic of that Pink Hat.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7d3ddo5rRLQ/WX-MtabOhFI/AAAAAAAAD74/tSaqCt5kIMYkuN3-4ESJxf7mWJfWFP2sQCLcBGAs/s1600/15523047827327733013.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="202" data-original-width="150" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7d3ddo5rRLQ/WX-MtabOhFI/AAAAAAAAD74/tSaqCt5kIMYkuN3-4ESJxf7mWJfWFP2sQCLcBGAs/s320/15523047827327733013.jpeg" width="237" /></a></div>The Kate that is is someone I met a few years ago with the Psoriasis group. The mob hasn't had a chance to meet up since but it would be good to see Kate again before it's too late.<br /><br />This Kate is a single mom who has been fighting all the challenges. She's a single mom, she has fought the life changing condition of Psoriatic Arthritis which isn't just the signs you see on the outside, it viciously attacks the joints on the inside too and as it's an auto-immune disease, the treatment severely damages the immune system. And she has terminal cancer as well.<br /><br />But we know our Kate will keep on fighting as long as she can.<br /><br />Hopefully long enough to meet up with us Patchy People of the Psoriasis group again and also for ...<br /><br />Time for an appeal ! A couple of the ladies of the Psoriasis group have put an appeal together to provide the funding for Kate and kids to have a chance to build some great memories together. <a href="https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/annette-kennedy?utm_id=106&amp;utm_term=gpNdq2dXY">HERE'S THE LINK</a> !<br /><br />I very rarely post links to charity pages but I think this one is worth it. Only met once but some people you meet ? You get an instant feeling that they're great people.<br /><br />Memories are very precious. I still hang on to the great memories of my nan and the good memories of my granddad, both are no longer with us.<br /><br />I'm still hoping for a miracle that would see the Kate-that-is stay with us for a good while longer.<br /><br />And if I name any of those Internet Spaceships after anyone, one that is a pretty little fighter has to be named as tribute to the Kate-that-is.Sleepypetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11143274290029186546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17680747.post-42656227126474679062017-07-28T22:09:00.001+01:002017-07-28T22:09:20.323+01:00Coming up to a break. And ships.Yep.<br /><br />Coming up to having a bit of a break again, which will be my usual thing of having a week off work just chilling out around the house. At least, that's the norm at the moment due to the continuing state of my feet.<br /><br />They are improving gradually but it's still very easy to set back that healing and some of the things I've used before (like the HC45) are very limited in use for me now. Like a lot of medicines, they can hinder as well as assist.<br /><br />I'm still enjoying the Elites a lot, although I have a sense that the rapid progress my character has been making there is going to turn from going up with rocket boots into rolling a rock up a hill. But ....<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wQuXAXL8n4s/WXuiBPykwEI/AAAAAAAAD7M/FIEV_BHtp1Qg7pZfbvByFKoZmagRsmJ5ACLcBGAs/s1600/Queen%2BSkye.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wQuXAXL8n4s/WXuiBPykwEI/AAAAAAAAD7M/FIEV_BHtp1Qg7pZfbvByFKoZmagRsmJ5ACLcBGAs/s400/Queen%2BSkye.png" width="400" /></a></div>That's my Dolphin class small passenger liner ship. I quite enjoyed bouncing around a few star systems in this one. (As usual, click for bigger plus .... I bought a nameplate DLC !) Another couple of Queen liners will appear but they're a fair way down the list of ships I'll be getting. I nearly lost this ship though after some complications when trying to take a tourist around a few systems. (I bumped into the visitor beacon while trying to scan it and got a bit entangled with the beacon ...)<br /><br />The latest two ships in the fleet after the Dolphin are an Eagle light fighter :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7cP3OO8_MI/WXui0V8DegI/AAAAAAAAD7Q/ZsL_-Sod5Z8WxnbLlrhJ3til6afxfP19wCLcBGAs/s1600/Elizabeth%2BSparrow.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7cP3OO8_MI/WXui0V8DegI/AAAAAAAAD7Q/ZsL_-Sod5Z8WxnbLlrhJ3til6afxfP19wCLcBGAs/s400/Elizabeth%2BSparrow.png" width="400" /></a></div>She's the Elizabeth Sparrow, after a particularly combative and fierce lady with lots of character who brightens the HeyChrissa discord.<br /><br />Talking of HeyChrissa ...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DtOhylFVTpg/WXujF7peOfI/AAAAAAAAD7U/hx5Evvvbra0I9XpiA7W5XodOotj9rI_HwCLcBGAs/s1600/Chrissa%2BPotato.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DtOhylFVTpg/WXujF7peOfI/AAAAAAAAD7U/hx5Evvvbra0I9XpiA7W5XodOotj9rI_HwCLcBGAs/s400/Chrissa%2BPotato.png" width="400" /></a></div>There was a half joking conversation on the stream the other night where I said I needed ideas for a ship to name after the Chrissa ... And the suggestion was : Chrissa's Potato. And the most potato like ship is one of my favourites, the Asp Explorer.<br /><br />Here's a better view :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-80O5jTwW4Q0/WXukDamgy3I/AAAAAAAAD7c/x8_7fJK40TEw82JDSGbsclKO0w_Mq9YYgCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot_0183.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-80O5jTwW4Q0/WXukDamgy3I/AAAAAAAAD7c/x8_7fJK40TEw82JDSGbsclKO0w_Mq9YYgCLcBGAs/s400/Screenshot_0183.png" width="400" /></a></div>I'll be using that one for quite a while. The Asp Explorer is a great workhorse capable of doing lots of different jobs pretty well.<br /><br />But I'll use the Eagle to do some crazy shooting up of ships first. The Big Plan is to go down the list of ships as they get bigger and more expensive and use them for the purpose intended. So at the moment, there is a Community Goal aimed at shooting people and turning in the bounties for them, so the Eagle will be thrown into that melee. And an Imperial Eagle after that, then the 2 Vipers and so on as they get more expensive.<br /><br />I'll be going scouting again with the scout ships at some point too, which brings me to another thing ...<br /><br />I need a pretty ship to name after KatherineofSky ! There's a new link on the right there to another Lovely Gaming Person. I've been enjoying watching a couple of people play a game called Cosmoteer, it's a (currently) free to play spaceship building and combat game that's in its early days but it has a massive amount of potential. Here's the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4o6UvJIdPNqtxHMDdywc45jeFJVaX8TG">KatherineofSky playlist</a>. Her latest ship has been called "Dragon" ... Coincidence ? A wonderful one if it is :-).<br /><br />But yeah - the games help to (mostly!) distract me from worrying at my damaged bits although they do tire me out. I'm done with the games for tonight, although I'll be watching the stream on the laptop while some other gaming videos are on.<br /><br />I should probably be reading in these downtime times ...<br /><br /><br />And I should probably not be watching the Lego building videos too ! If I had the money and the space to put the models, a lot of Lego would be getting built. There's just something about watching something start from nothing steadily come together and take shape as something amazing. That's the thing with Lego.<br /><br />The current kit that is attracting my eye is the Lego Air Race Jet although some of the trucks and cranes with all the technic motor and pneumatic systems look amazing.<br /><br />Temptation is a wonderful thing - but expensive !Sleepypetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11143274290029186546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17680747.post-76375658872403458412017-07-24T21:21:00.000+01:002017-07-24T21:24:10.167+01:00Fun with the ship namesYep.<br /><br />More Elite. It probably shows with the number of Internet Spaceship themed posts lately that I've been enjoying my time back in the game since the reset, with my head in the spaceship pilot seat most of the time ... even if I'm not actually in game as much as it seems. What can I say, it's a game that caught the imagination and I find it quite restful plying my trade amongst the stars.<br /><br />After giving the current internet spaceship a proper name (It's the ICV Lisa Kelly after one of the Ice Road Trucker people), I want to give the other ships names too ...<br /><br />But first .... how many ships ? What do they look like ? I found this pic :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--z-Jddw1RpM/WXZLug0_xxI/AAAAAAAAD6c/anGwnlgyYGUBGbx6egzLVaDojB0BMAwpwCLcBGAs/s1600/ED_Ship_Chart_V2_3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="1600" height="282" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--z-Jddw1RpM/WXZLug0_xxI/AAAAAAAAD6c/anGwnlgyYGUBGbx6egzLVaDojB0BMAwpwCLcBGAs/s400/ED_Ship_Chart_V2_3.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>As always, click for bigger .... although you might actually like to open it out into another window or tab for later reference. Maybe not if you have a limited amount of download though because it is a very big picture (14MB if Google hasn't made it smaller)<br /><br />I also saw the video I'm about to link, which really does show off the ships pretty well. Here's the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2uaRHFmBT4">ship comparison video</a> ! Good video.<br /><br />The ships I already have are the starter ships :<br />Sidewinder - Humility because it was a return to humble beginnings.<br />Hauler - Dignity after that Deacon Blue song.<br />Adder - Algebraic.<br />Cobra Mk3 - Ranger, with it marking my first forays to the edge of the populated bubble.<br />Cobra Mk4 - Pathfinder, as a follow on from the Ranger.<br /><br />And I'm now in the Lisa Kelly, a Type 6 space truck. Tool for the trade and that one is back to being unarmed. If you carry weapons in the game, the added weight and power requirement (leading to a heavier power supply) mean a lower hyperspace jump range which means it takes longer to get to where you're going. And there isn't much point in getting guns for the space truck as it's not fast or agile enough to bring them to bear and doesn't last long enough to win the fights.<br /><br />It's always wise to pick your battles but sometimes you have to pick .... no battles. :-D.<br /><br />There are another 3 space trucks and a trio of liner ships that I'll get ... I have names lined up for the Keelback - ICV Art Burke after a rather combative Ice Road Trucker. The Type 7 will be the Alex Dewey after another pair of Ice Road Truckers and the Type 9 will be named after Darrell Ward, a very colourful trucker from the series who was lost to us in an aircraft accident.<br /><br />The three liners ? They're the Dolphin, Orca and the Beluga. Let's see ... I take some inspiration from the luxury liners that sail our seas and in particular, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary. So I think our internet liner spaceships will be the Queen Karen, Queen Skye and Queen Jenny. I can't see me using those ships very much though as the passenger mechanics sound ... annoying. But they do look gorgeous though.<br /><br />There are a series of fighty ships as well which I won't use too much, I'll come back to fightyness in the game later on when I can afford to wreck in the Federal Corvette. It'll be fun to zoom around in some of the smaller ones though.<br /><br />Let's see :<br />Eagle - will be the Elizabeth Sparrow. She's one of the characters of the Discord servers, a small and very feisty lady who keeps us men in our place.<br />Imperial Eagle (a variant) - if the Eagle is Liz, then the Imperial Eagle should be another from the Discords. Perhaps the Quotation Raven.<br />Imperial Courier - and following the theme, this should be the Kaisha Louise.<br />Moving up from there are the Vipers, Mk III and Mk IV. Following the Chrissa discord theme, these have to be the ultimate in moderators, Lord Jms and Lord Nikmurder with their ban hammers.<br />The medium fighter ship is the Vulture with a pair of rather large guns. I quite enjoy reading the online tech news site called The Register, who have the Vulture as their prime symbol. So my Vulture can only be called Registrar.<br />And then there is the Fer-De-Lance - ultimate of the pure fighter craft outside of the chunky Federation ships. Not sure here, although there is a character from Chrissa's Discord who I haven't mentioned yet - Lady Monowheat.<br /><br />The probably daft thing though is that while I'd like to collect all of these ships, I'm not likely to fly many of them very much. I'll leave the fighty ships until I have a battle wagon and I won't indulge in the awkward passenger carrying much. But it'll be curious to take them out of the station at least once.<br /><br />The next ship was going to be Discovery but I'll name the Asp Explorer after Chrissa instead. It'll be Chrissa's Protatoe. I raised the idea in stream chat earlier and the response was to pick something potato like. And ....<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WcB4J1xwadk/WXZQPcsInEI/AAAAAAAAD6o/s17cOvNj5zwdnrhJm38orsAlrAjLltUvgCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot_0110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WcB4J1xwadk/WXZQPcsInEI/AAAAAAAAD6o/s17cOvNj5zwdnrhJm38orsAlrAjLltUvgCLcBGAs/s400/Screenshot_0110.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>There's an Asp I owned in a previous character. I believe that means the smaller Asp Scout just has to be the Lauren Radderss after the other streamer I enjoy watching.<br /><br />Following that theme, there are another two exploration oriented ships. These are the Diamondback Scout and Diamondback Explorer. After enjoying their Factorio series, which involved exploring a Death world and cutting out their place in it, I believe these should be the KatherineOfSpace (actually ...ofSky) and the Nilaus.<br /><br />Next up are the Federal ships, which are chunky combat ships. We have the :<br /><br />Federal Assault Ship - Commander Warspite<br />Federal Drop Ship - Captain Hood<br />(After a pair of celebrated Royal Navy warships)<br />Federal Gun Ship - after his highly enjoyable series on Cosmoteer, (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLR5ZBfGW6e1kk7fcQ83khDTkq2yL7zT11">here's the playlist link</a>) this shall be the Commodore Elysium. This ship must have big lasers in honour of EE's Chalice battlecruiser.<br />Federal Corvette - there can only be one name for the flagship combat ship and that's the Admiral Nelson.<br /><br />After the Asp, the next ship will be the multirole Python .... which has to be named after my favourite of the Monty's, Michael Palin. And the biggest and most flexible multirole ship is the Anaconda which shall be named ... the Sarah Taylor. Perhaps not the most fitting name ! Sarah Taylor aka Squirt is the England ladies wicket keeper, who I think is the best keeper in the world at the moment. She did her part and then some in the World Cup final yesterday.<br /><br />And then the last couple of ships are the pretty Imperial cruisers :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hK7alm_G6Ms/WXZUYkbFssI/AAAAAAAAD60/amXiI2_GVd8vvdoXfggmXidp4EiTwAdwACLcBGAs/s1600/If%2BCadbury%2BDid%2BSpaceships.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hK7alm_G6Ms/WXZUYkbFssI/AAAAAAAAD60/amXiI2_GVd8vvdoXfggmXidp4EiTwAdwACLcBGAs/s400/If%2BCadbury%2BDid%2BSpaceships.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Chocolate edition Clipper and Chocolate edition Cutter :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-10wFkPmb7CY/WXZUgVnz7yI/AAAAAAAAD64/UqVEW2SXqdgldzCjZtkzdKmI8bjGrtczwCLcBGAs/s1600/Cadbury%2BCutter.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-10wFkPmb7CY/WXZUgVnz7yI/AAAAAAAAD64/UqVEW2SXqdgldzCjZtkzdKmI8bjGrtczwCLcBGAs/s400/Cadbury%2BCutter.png" width="400" /></a></div>(Paint jobs not actually available in game !)<br /><br />If I gave a couple of ships above names based on Chrissa's mods, I can't leave out another fella. I believe Lord Silvernightwing would be appropriate for the Clipper of spoilers and other nastiness from Radderss' stream chat. Silver's a lovely mod, strict yep ... but a good egg too.<br /><br />That Cutter though ... I think this one will be the Baron Stephen when it arrives for .... reasons :-D. Someone else spent lots of time in the original Elite as well as me when we were kids !<br /><br />I'm sure I'll lose a few of these ships over my time in game so there's definitely room for more names, like calling ships names like the Luth Curmal (definitely!) and the Admiral Stone. Perhaps a bit of Doc FairosMakani and Krinza, Npralie, Tufflan/Camilla, Makai, Fubb, Zaphyr and Souleater from my Warcraft days too.<br /><br />Post your ideas ! I think the comments are open again to anonymous people :-) (Although Google's not-a-robot might interfere ...)Sleepypetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11143274290029186546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17680747.post-4631442652822573702017-07-23T20:31:00.000+01:002017-07-23T20:34:56.135+01:00Despicably Apeing SpacemenI've been struggling again lately. I think one of the symptoms of that is when I don't put much here.<br /><br />There's usually two reasons for that - busy is one ! And then I catch up later with what I've been up to. Or it's the other kind of busy where I've been putting everything into work with not energy much left over for later. It's been like that lately and work isn't something I'll be talking about here.<br /><br />The other reason for not posting much is that old bugbear of the depressive cycles ... I've been in one of those lately. Depression is especially tough because it alters your mental perception of what's going on. It makes you doubt, it makes you look to negative explanations for things.<br /><br />One reason my depression is kicking at the moment is the wreckage that is my feet ... Yep. Still lots of damage, not really helped by me attempting to clean up the bad bits. The trouble is that if I'm slightly too aggressive about cleaning up the damage, I cause more damage. It really needs time to heal up on its own, which means not attacking the damage.<br /><br />And I'll be giving it chance to do that with a week off in a fortnight. At least it's currently planned to be in a fortnight. I am in two minds about wasting a week's worth of being able to park ... Which is silly because I need that rest and recuperation and healing time more than I need to park. My knees have actually recovered over this week, they were a wreck as well this time last week.<br /><br />Another reason why depression is hard is that it's very hard to lift yourself out of it. I depend on friends to help out. The camaraderie that I see in chat on streams helps up to a point but it's nowhere near as effective as people talking to you, boosting your confidence with that reassurance of "Yes, you really do know what you're talking about even if you don't believe it yourself."<br /><br />I know two (actually 3 !) ladies at work who help me out a lot with giving me confidence that I am actually a quality engineer who is equal to and better to a lot of my peers. They're actually surprised that I'm not higher up in the hierarchy (which is something I'm working on).<br /><br />And there is one very special lady who makes me think I'm worth knowing socially as well. She gives good hugs.<br /><br />As one example, I've watched Despicable Me 3 twice over the last week or so. Once, with the Work-Ish mob. Didn't enjoy it very much that time, the depression was in charge and colouring my perceptions of an actually quite funny film (even if it is a formula that's now gone on too long). Yep. Came out under a thundercloud metaphorically as well as literally. On Tuesday though, I go see Despicable Me 3 with Cupid's Gift, CG's sister and another friend. Really enjoyed it. Seeing the little lovely broke that depressive cycle and while it didn't get me all the way back to Happy Sleepy, it got me able to enjoy things again.<br /><br />Talking to people helps out a huge amount. That's my plea - if you have a friend who is struggling and needs to talk, be a listener. Make time for your friends when they are struggling and they will hopefully return that favour when you're struggling.<br /><br />And we all struggle at some point in our life. Life is tough. But fun if you're around the right people.<br /><br />Game time !<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jcou2LnwJqY/WXTxFdb31VI/AAAAAAAAD5s/okKtzao8sdE2z_N38fm7l5ZXJt94UCfYACLcBGAs/s1600/Lisa%2BKelly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jcou2LnwJqY/WXTxFdb31VI/AAAAAAAAD5s/okKtzao8sdE2z_N38fm7l5ZXJt94UCfYACLcBGAs/s400/Lisa%2BKelly.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I haven't been in Elite actually that much but I have been enjoying my time back in there since resetting the save. That's the latest ship in the fleet, the ICV Lisa Kelly. It's a Type 6 space truck and it's named after one of the more charming of the Ice Road Truckers. There are 3 more space trucks and I think the names for those will be ICV Art Burke for the Keelback (a more fighty oriented truck and trucker), ICV Alex Dewey for the Type 7 (a mix of Alex Dopogorski and Todd Dewey) and the Type 9 super freighter will be ICV Darrell Ward, after an Ice Road Trucker who lost his life in a plane accident after the last series.<br /><br />Here's the fleet so far :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9KtbiEZ_mdU/WXTyNy_uoKI/AAAAAAAAD54/uwio9pnq_OYuZDc3hOhXcOrCmt9oFux4wCLcBGAs/s1600/Ship%2Blist%2B1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9KtbiEZ_mdU/WXTyNy_uoKI/AAAAAAAAD54/uwio9pnq_OYuZDc3hOhXcOrCmt9oFux4wCLcBGAs/s400/Ship%2Blist%2B1.png" width="400" /></a></div>In the previous save, I would usually sell the ships after upgrading to the next. This time around, I will attempt to collect all of the ships. There are quite a few .... So far, I have the Sidewinder, Hauler, Adder, the two Cobra types and the Type 6 space truck. After the latest community goal finishes, I'll have more than enough to get an Asp Explorer multirole ship (Discovery) which I will continue to use for a rather long time ...<br /><br />So that's 6 down so far, 1 more coming imminently and after that, 25 more to collect. I could afford a few of the cheaper ones quite quickly although it would be a shame to buy and then not use them at all. It'll be a while before I want any of the more fighty ships though.<br /><br />It's not all Elite though, I've been enjoying playing Halcyon 6 although from what I hear, that's not one you really want to play into its end game. Another I have trouble playing into its end game is Stellaris ... which has been back in the playlist today. I have another hive race which is aiming to eat the galaxy. Although not quite in the same way as before ... This time, I'm looking to have super clever people with robots doing the donkey work with mineral collection. I haven't used robots much before.<br /><br />I've been in the Motorsport Manager again, although that's a little frustrating as my team isn't catching up to the lead teams as quickly as I'd like. They're still 2 to 2.5 seconds a lap behind. But I still got them a win this year taking advantage of the AI teams making really bad decisions in wet conditions.<br /><br />Need to read more though. I've been just after the first prologue chapter of an Alastair Reynolds novel for a while now. I just don't feel much like reading at the moment !<br /><br />Soon.<br /><br />Two more weeks at work, then chill out properly for a week. I've arranged it to coincide with cricket on the telly :-).<br /><br />And that's the last thing to mention actually ! I really enjoyed keeping an eye on the Women's World Cup cricket final today with England playing India. I had Stellaris on at the same time but my attention was steadily diverting over to a cricket game that was steadily getting more and more tense to the finish.<br /><br />Would England hold on in the field and defend a low total ?<br />Would India's batting depth see them home ?<br />Would the rain win with showers starting again at the end ?<br /><br />In the end, it was an excellent win by England with it being great to see one of my old celebrations on screen again with Anya Shrubsole taking 6 wickets to give England the win with arms aloft, aeroplane style, for almost every wicket.<br /><br />Great to see.<br /><br />PS Apeing ? Almost forgot. Watched War for the Planet Of The Apes on Wednesday ... a pretty good film, quite dark though. Not an entertainment film but a good one to continue the story of that series. Recommended if you're a fan of the Planet of the Apes remakes. Sleepypetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11143274290029186546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17680747.post-19107284570142632542017-07-15T18:30:00.000+01:002017-07-15T18:30:47.756+01:00Continuing Adventures of Cmdr SleepyThere haven't been that many adventures to be honest.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pj_NnQO82gs/WWpKXFp_snI/AAAAAAAAD4g/yU-2_sumiEoA43l8CN_7IUlobZYYMHebACLcBGAs/s1600/e959b394-fbb4-11e5-b0dd-7b74aaaf255c_1280x720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="980" height="179" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pj_NnQO82gs/WWpKXFp_snI/AAAAAAAAD4g/yU-2_sumiEoA43l8CN_7IUlobZYYMHebACLcBGAs/s320/e959b394-fbb4-11e5-b0dd-7b74aaaf255c_1280x720.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Some - but not too much time in there. A lot of that is down to me hitting that wall again in terms of health and energy. I haven't had bugs in any major way for a while but the energy is definitely struggling to be unlocked. And that's strange too, because since I figured out one reason why I wasn't sleeping*, I've actually been sleeping better.<br /><br />*(I was tensing up while trying to drop off to sleep, the consequence of which was that the tensing up was keeping me awake. I'm looking to put my brain into a "relax all muscles" mode now which seems to be working).<br /><br />However, I think I'm in one of the troughs in my cycle of manic-depression. Not had the proper manic for a little while, it takes energy to feed it. I do slip into it at work, purely due to wanting to get the throughput of the work done. And we're getting a lot done at the moment.<br /><br />Work's a bit funny with that. We had a lull in some of the work up to the election and we're now catching up with that now. The hectic just means that the normal housekeeping stuff you'd keep on top of is pushed right until there is time again to deal with it. I'll throw myself into the working day and then collapse in a heap when I'm home. There's also the ongoing effect of my bad feet and other bad bits, they are fixing but the constant awareness of them is very wearing.<br /><br />Watching the video game playing fits in quite well with that. Whereas I cut short an Elite session today due to finding it a bit too wearing, I'll rarely get bored with watching the gaming videos, although that's more a matter of being selective about what and who you're watching. (And I really must empty the washing machine too now it's finished !)<br /><br />Anyway - Elite ...<br /><br />A fortuitous combination of missions let me quickly upgrade the Adder into a Cobra Mk3.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FHlJbjAwMbM/WWpL7jRioUI/AAAAAAAAD4o/K0R4YjFWIDscsQpKDcky4Eew0UBtNlTcwCLcBGAs/s1600/Ranger.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FHlJbjAwMbM/WWpL7jRioUI/AAAAAAAAD4o/K0R4YjFWIDscsQpKDcky4Eew0UBtNlTcwCLcBGAs/s400/Ranger.png" width="400" /></a></div>That's Ranger. The Cobra Mk3 was the iconic ship from the original game. It's a smaller multi role ship, which does well at everything. Up to a point ... I even put guns on it, although I'd be running from anything significantly bigger or combat oriented.<br /><br />That's the real trick in life as well as in games, pick your battles. Find a way around fights that you can't win, put all your effort into winning the fights that you have a chance at. Always go in with a winning attitude, even if the "win" condition is to avoid the battle.<br /><br />Ranger spent most of its time in a couple of systems called Sothis and Ceos. They're a couple of hundred light years away from the small populated bubble of space and are very handy for mission running ... You can regularly get the maximum allowable amount of easy courier missions to run a circle between the 3 stations there.<br /><br />I don't want to do that too much though, I'd rather go to a variety of systems and bounce between tasks instead of grinding away at a single task.<br /><br />But yeah, a few trips around that loop plus the big paying long range courier mission on the way back gave the funds for the next upgrade :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fIol_lu9dgQ/WWpNqFr6GKI/AAAAAAAAD4w/lra4nJW7ETYLz3ditsltqsWn8-4lZ2ibACLcBGAs/s1600/Pathfinder.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fIol_lu9dgQ/WWpNqFr6GKI/AAAAAAAAD4w/lra4nJW7ETYLz3ditsltqsWn8-4lZ2ibACLcBGAs/s400/Pathfinder.png" width="400" /></a></div>Erm yep .... It's very similar to the Mk3. This is the Cobra Mk4 named Pathfinder, which has been pressed into service answering the call with the latest Community Goal.<br /><br />A group called Null are looking to get an Asteroid Base built. These, along with Megaships, were added in the last major content patch and I want to see one at some point. Soon :-).<br /><br />Yep. Latest community goal, thought I'd missed it but they've sponsored a repeat of it :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-79goXjkdI14/WWpOSgeTwyI/AAAAAAAAD40/dOJmuQe4gQU0w7oE21pRHU4IcRsSZezTACLcBGAs/s1600/Bring%2BTea.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-79goXjkdI14/WWpOSgeTwyI/AAAAAAAAD40/dOJmuQe4gQU0w7oE21pRHU4IcRsSZezTACLcBGAs/s400/Bring%2BTea.png" width="400" /></a></div>(Click for bigger and hopefully legible text!)<br /><br />Yep. They've put a call out for tea and my Cobra Mk4 has been pressed into service to answer the call. It's quite odd doing this community goal. Before the reset, I would have been doing it in an Imperial Cutter with around 704t (depending on configuration) of cargo space. That easily puts you in the Top 25% or so inside a couple of runs. After a few runs in the Cobra with 72t at the moment, I'm in the Top 75%. It'll be a handy few million credit pay out which will go towards either :<br /><br />An Asp Explorer - a long range ship that is very good at quickly going around the galaxy. Decent at trade too.<br />A Type 6 freighter - I really don't want to fly the freighters too much (they're too slow and move like bricks) but they are much better at moving cargo than the other ships. Handy for the community goals.<br /><br />And then the aim for a little way off is to get a Python and attempt to do a run around the galaxy trading rare goods. I have a 90 odd stop route that I should really try and complete.<br /><br />But for now it's :<br /><br />Half watching the end of the Test Match cricket on the telly;<br />Half watching the T20 game they'll show later. Hopefully it doesn't get rained off like last night !<br />Stream watching, although I'm not quite sure which I'll watch. Probably Heychrissa;<br />Figuring out how to simultaneously watch the cricket, Grand Prix and World Endurance Championship tomorrow;<br />And emptying that washing machine !<br /><br />And maybe some more Internet Spaceships when I have the interest and energy !Sleepypetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11143274290029186546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17680747.post-87936049237913397242017-07-09T22:49:00.001+01:002017-07-09T23:06:19.001+01:00Music for a galactic flyboyIt's been a while since I've done a music post !<br /><br />Time for one that's a little different. I've been enjoying my time in Elite with a restarted character. It's become fresher, there's a sense of much more risk that brings engagement, it's a definitely novelty having to dock with my own piloting for a change and I like the small, nippy ships. Oh and no one in the galaxy knows Cmdr Keela Danne yet, Cmdr Iceangel was quite well known and could get the good contracts.<br /><br />I should probably say that this is partly intended as a New Player Advice Post !<br /><br />I definitely didn't have a sense of being <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EQZN3CwydI">Indestructible (Alisha's Attic)</a> in the trusty Sidewinder I started in.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bdq6R-3DhAQ/WWKaKdGeyWI/AAAAAAAAD4A/OpY4MAFTuYQSEbTjvFtlLXdQfoBSny9rACLcBGAs/s1600/Humility.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bdq6R-3DhAQ/WWKaKdGeyWI/AAAAAAAAD4A/OpY4MAFTuYQSEbTjvFtlLXdQfoBSny9rACLcBGAs/s400/Humility.png" width="400" /></a></div>Cute ship. If you can call a box with an engine cute. This is the ship they give you at the start, with 1000 credits and all loaned parts to make your name with. It can hold 10 tonnes of cargo if you take the shields off it, a little more if you run without a scanner too. But that's a bad idea because you can make a little bit of money with the scanner, plus it's very useful for planetary landings on bodies that you actually need to find.<br /><br />Anyway - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZFk8VqJPz4">Space Dog (Tori Amos)</a> ... or Space Puppy on the move again.<br /><br />There isn't much option in the little ship to do anything other than moving cargo and letters around. The jump range goes out decently when you get a better hyperdrive but it's very limited in the amount of fuel it can carry.<br /><br />And a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sI66hcu9fIs">Starman (David Bowie)</a> wants to range far and wide.<br /><br />I started off in Federation territory, where you can pick up some fairly easy courier contracts (but be prepared to Run) that boost up the money supply pretty well. Quick enough to get that Sidewinder upgraded quite nicely to a longer range hyperdrive. And then ....<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6oJQ1YRk924/WWKcNg0oumI/AAAAAAAAD4E/8qQNslEfo2sWd5DHoThn_lMRswrXipHNACLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot_0168.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6oJQ1YRk924/WWKcNg0oumI/AAAAAAAAD4E/8qQNslEfo2sWd5DHoThn_lMRswrXipHNACLcBGAs/s400/Screenshot_0168.png" width="400" /></a></div>The black Hauler class ship called Dignity. That name comes from a track by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsr9HCOgQe0">Deacon Blue</a> which is one of the favourites. There's a fella out there who wants to retire and buy a ship called Dignity. Good song.<br /><br />That ship didn't end up being a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFtC1__477E">Frequent Flyer (A Camp)</a>. I got rid of it after one flight ! It's not actually that much of a jump between the Hauler and the Adder class multirole ship. The black Adder not actually known as Edmund can hold 20 tonnes of cargo with a shield. I've put guns on there now too to chase away pesky Sidewinder pirates.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h5DM1Y53N-A/WWKdfWtIi0I/AAAAAAAAD4I/0NhcBGxEOlouCIqej0XyAz8Ocohwy7wQgCLcBGAs/s1600/Badly%2BNamed%2BAdder.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h5DM1Y53N-A/WWKdfWtIi0I/AAAAAAAAD4I/0NhcBGxEOlouCIqej0XyAz8Ocohwy7wQgCLcBGAs/s400/Badly%2BNamed%2BAdder.png" width="400" /></a></div>I think my original Adder was called Starbug. This one is named after a play on its class name. It is the ICV Algebraic (Independent Courier Vessel) after another wonderful song by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Z6KDa4Rvng">A Camp, Algebra</a>.<br /><br />The next step up from an Adder will be the old favourite from the very first Elite, the Cobra Mk3. I'm not quite there yet. I could buy the ship but I'm waiting until I have a good packet of money available for upgrades. It's good to get into that top level hyperdrive as soon as you buy the ship.<br /><br />Cos you know, that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az8B-WvSAG0">Road To Somewhere (Goldfrapp)</a> can be a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIHEuYfDypg">Long And Windy Road (Beatles)</a>.<br /><br />Can you believe that this :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CsLm7h2oqyc/WWKemYY3fUI/AAAAAAAAD4M/kvrtu7nimDo05j5LybG_0UKToX81c-OiQCLcBGAs/s1600/h56HD9I.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CsLm7h2oqyc/WWKemYY3fUI/AAAAAAAAD4M/kvrtu7nimDo05j5LybG_0UKToX81c-OiQCLcBGAs/s320/h56HD9I.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Makes this ?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YqapxnXiRV8/WWKerrNJ-DI/AAAAAAAAD4Q/eyb0j_7RRaoP6-pf9XSqOACPWaG5260AQCLcBGAs/s1600/9gktiin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YqapxnXiRV8/WWKerrNJ-DI/AAAAAAAAD4Q/eyb0j_7RRaoP6-pf9XSqOACPWaG5260AQCLcBGAs/s320/9gktiin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I think I need one.<br /><br />And then it's up the ship classes into Cobra Mk4 for a while (bigger, more capable), the Asp Explorer, the Python and then maybe .... one of the bigger ships. I'm only intending to fly ships I'll enjoy flying this time around which counts out the freighter type ships. They can make a decent amount of trading cash for their size but they're pretty hateful to fly. It isn't all about the money though. Sometimes it's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA_yP4RfXVc">How High (Madonna)</a> can you go.<br /><br />One thing about the switching between ships. There's a few very sites for the new and not so new Elite player.<br /><a href="http://coriolis.edcd.io/">Coriolis.edcd.io</a> (the edcd version is newer) lets you build ship designs, see whether they work in the weight and power limits and ... sends you over to EDDB to show you where to get them.<br /><a href="https://eddb.io/">Elite Dangerous Data Base</a> is invaluable for trading, although you can get caught up with the data being out of date.<br />And then there is <a href="http://inara.cz/">Inara.cz</a> as another site carrying tonnes of info about the game.<br /><br />If the ship isn't capable of turning that quick, you can't really <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkbwNAGh9J8">Blame It On The Moon (Katie Melua)</a> for slowing it down.<br /><br />A few more quick ones ?<br />Don't want to get <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id10ASJMzHA">Stuck (Caro Emerald)</a> and dry on fuel ...<br />I avoid Open mode like the plague cos of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCkFSe3voRc">Kids With Guns (Gorillaz)</a>;<br />If you <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6Kspj3OO0s">Linger (Cranberries)</a> too long, it is a crime punishable by death (Really !);<br />At some point, I'll be <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTxythHY09k">Chasing Pirates (Norah Jones)</a>;<br />The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDM8kZOWJFs">Midnight Sun (Lisa Miskovsky)</a> is especially pretty ... but if I'm seeing suns at midnight that's going to be really bad for my sleep pattern !<br />I'm definitely in the best ship for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XN1ACNlXWhc">Mathematics (Little Boots)</a> at the moment;<br />I hope the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzRf5HOTu6U">Lifeboats (Snow Patrol)</a> work ...<br />I'm always hoping for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4-GIkuWT9g">Safe Travels (Lisa Hannigan)</a>;<br />It's wonderful being <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AWHALoCzPM">Under Stars (Aurora)</a>;<br /><br />One last one. One of my favourite albums which doesn't get enough linkage here is Dark Side Of The Moon (oh even more appropriate !) by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gryCFevszRQ">Pink Floyd with .... Great Gig in the Sky</a>.<br /><br />Oh wait ! There is the perfect song for any Elite or space game player ... It can only be ... We aim to misbehave, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DiWxcilWtU">Firefly</a> style.Sleepypetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11143274290029186546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17680747.post-25145541659924414662017-07-06T22:13:00.001+01:002017-07-06T22:13:13.246+01:00Pondering a new beginning ....Don't get too excited !<br /><br />It's in a game. Not in the real world. At least, not in the real world outside of the game. Pixel People have lives too right ?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WW9-ff46niw/UHMvMtchNkI/AAAAAAAAAp4/VmoJclYfdj83If8XrOSWTf6FHwBgc2SYwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/523763_530148723667240_2018117834_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="389" height="315" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WW9-ff46niw/UHMvMtchNkI/AAAAAAAAAp4/VmoJclYfdj83If8XrOSWTf6FHwBgc2SYwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/523763_530148723667240_2018117834_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The game in question is Elite and you've read me writing about it loads of time before. It's a great game to lose yourself in as a space trader or explorer (maybe a bit of combat shooty too). You can dip into the storylines they set up and the community goals that are run (bit too much of a short cut to riches those).<br /><br />Yeah. I've enjoyed my time in the Elites. But lately, I haven't had any interest in playing it. I think that's due to running out of goals. I'm very much about the journey in games like this, not really interested in the end. Starting small and having an adventure along the way. And then getting bored and wanting to start the journey again.<br /><br />Goals ? Having the Pretty Ship. Seeing the sights. Going to new places. Getting a sun tan from the stars.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JfI05m-ayJA/WV6gHHwlqPI/AAAAAAAAD3U/p2OzopYsxz0tn7RV6QHkc46_YvCB8623ACLcBGAs/s1600/Ship%2Bwith%2Bnew%2Bcamera.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JfI05m-ayJA/WV6gHHwlqPI/AAAAAAAAD3U/p2OzopYsxz0tn7RV6QHkc46_YvCB8623ACLcBGAs/s320/Ship%2Bwith%2Bnew%2Bcamera.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Gotta say I'm not a fan of the new camera mode - so far. More play needed).<br /><br />So I'm thinking of retiring my current pilot and restarting my game. Big step but .... it's only data ! Gotta remember that. You invest time into the games but you shouldn't invest too much .... reliance on it ? Not sure what the word is. If you have to start again to get enjoyment back into something you had fun with, do it.<br /><br />And you can put pilot avatars into the game now too ...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9JwTFbK1Mlo/WV6hP-FEu2I/AAAAAAAAD3Y/pEAVlXeB14QU15WsSL-xxR1OSPTjfJqYwCLcBGAs/s1600/19657397_10207379280760364_4690623610543020886_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9JwTFbK1Mlo/WV6hP-FEu2I/AAAAAAAAD3Y/pEAVlXeB14QU15WsSL-xxR1OSPTjfJqYwCLcBGAs/s400/19657397_10207379280760364_4690623610543020886_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Khajiit has wares if you have credits.<br /><br />How far did I get in the game ? To the centre of the galaxy and back (<a href="http://iceangelthemerc.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/a-commanders-log.html">big trek, here's the story</a>). I earned the Imperial rank for the Pretty ships. Almost enough for the Corvette, best combat ship in the game. (I didn't do much combat)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eZPyKASeasQ/WV6jYRPVGEI/AAAAAAAAD3c/GHC9Rau7nA0KhcO6NfXnQcHt5EORz1XeACLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot_0159.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eZPyKASeasQ/WV6jYRPVGEI/AAAAAAAAD3c/GHC9Rau7nA0KhcO6NfXnQcHt5EORz1XeACLcBGAs/s400/Screenshot_0159.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />I earned the cash to fit a small selection of ships.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zpg_29MEhgw/WV6jw0l0IBI/AAAAAAAAD3g/OjkheF_NfjkpccM4kARLLaWZ-tk3vM6MgCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot_0160.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zpg_29MEhgw/WV6jw0l0IBI/AAAAAAAAD3g/OjkheF_NfjkpccM4kARLLaWZ-tk3vM6MgCLcBGAs/s400/Screenshot_0160.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />Many, many ports visited, goods traded.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JV7pfqbb2Z0/WV6kDLCVKDI/AAAAAAAAD3k/UeVTiJQND68EwqkpWnSoRFx0GJ5AhNO7ACLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot_0161.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JV7pfqbb2Z0/WV6kDLCVKDI/AAAAAAAAD3k/UeVTiJQND68EwqkpWnSoRFx0GJ5AhNO7ACLcBGAs/s400/Screenshot_0161.png" width="400" /></a></div>A hell of a lot more crime and smuggling than I got caught for.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B6Ig8ghM4ho/WV6kUEXFc1I/AAAAAAAAD3o/fvt9ueTJs18hWfeWrQeZpAbpI2x2U1CsgCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot_0162.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B6Ig8ghM4ho/WV6kUEXFc1I/AAAAAAAAD3o/fvt9ueTJs18hWfeWrQeZpAbpI2x2U1CsgCLcBGAs/s400/Screenshot_0162.png" width="400" /></a></div>And many, many stars visited. Although that is just scratching the surface of just how big the Elite galaxy is.<br /><br />But I haven't been back in since creating the April Fools post.<br /><br />I think the thing that's changed is trying out Bounty Train. It has reminded me about that journey. The theme of starting tiny and building up. That journey has always interested me in gaming. That's another theme that has run through my gaming. I went through a few strategy games before Stellaris supplanted Moo2. I kept going back to Moo2 after realising it was better than the new one. Like World of Warcraft, every MMO I tried sent me back to the original that I enjoyed for so long.<br /><br />So I think my original pilot, Commander Iceangel has just decided to retire. Instead of propping up the bar she's been in at Ridley Scott starbase and seeing the sites of Lave, Zaonce, Diso and Leesti, she's buying her own corner of the station and opening Iceangel's Ices. A coffee bar specialising in cooler drinks, definitely creating all sorts of ice cream. (Themes are good).<br /><br />And the next commander will follow what happened in Eve. My original pilot, Mistress Iceangel that time (cos Iceangel was taken and I needed to add something!) got succeeded by Keela Danne. So something like that will happen this time around. Keela is a character name I've used a fair bit, it was randomly generated by a D&amp;D name creator and I thought it was a fantastic name so I kept it going.<br /><br />Not yet though cos that retire and restart is irreversible and I'd like to do it when I have chance to put some time into the early game.<br /><br />Which isn't tonight ! Chill out time tonight before working for a while tomorrow and chilling out to the cricket over the weekend.<br /><br />Good times.<br /><br />Hopefully restful times !<br /><br />Enjoy your weekends :-)<br /><br />PS Enjoyed Baby Driver tonight. Great fun film, rather daft, definitely violent, best soundtrack there will be for a while.<br />PPS ....<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a2K6P2I-HeI/WV6ne8D2CXI/AAAAAAAAD3s/fBAw-a6unoYJeJ2c7zMc5XmZGrDyhW62wCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot_0040.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a2K6P2I-HeI/WV6ne8D2CXI/AAAAAAAAD3s/fBAw-a6unoYJeJ2c7zMc5XmZGrDyhW62wCLcBGAs/s320/Screenshot_0040.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>That's a Sidewinder, which I'd be restarting in. Tiny ship. Fragile ship. But a little speed demon too.<br />PPPS ....<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-shf1I0Ok1Jk/WV6n0UvmtHI/AAAAAAAAD3w/f7OX_KA6mTcQZ_JtpNcuf8Uu-tMffuNlwCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot_0068.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-shf1I0Ok1Jk/WV6n0UvmtHI/AAAAAAAAD3w/f7OX_KA6mTcQZ_JtpNcuf8Uu-tMffuNlwCLcBGAs/s320/Screenshot_0068.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>As games go, this is one of the prettiest.Sleepypetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11143274290029186546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17680747.post-51616222109592493632017-07-04T21:53:00.001+01:002017-07-04T21:53:49.490+01:00Unnecessary DramaThat was definitely me last night ....<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F1a99DcAqBU/VCHWW9L_LYI/AAAAAAAABM8/zk7tZS27iZ8FjU-fXEcSoMoY9GmADgNxQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/15403_1050872814942171_6126185414629127408_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="528" data-original-width="447" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F1a99DcAqBU/VCHWW9L_LYI/AAAAAAAABM8/zk7tZS27iZ8FjU-fXEcSoMoY9GmADgNxQCPcBGAYYCw/s400/15403_1050872814942171_6126185414629127408_n.jpg" width="337" /></a></div>Yep. Wasn't with my body (for a change!) it was the electronics and the gadgets doing things I didn't want them to do again ....<br /><br />Yep. It happens. Even a techie guy like me can be hit with the viruses and malware on the computer. Even if you have the careful habits, it only takes a little bit of carelessness to allow something quite nasty into the machine. Just see the news reports about the massive cryptovirus outbreaks that have been going around the world lately.<br /><br />Anyway. What actually happened ? I have a patched up Windows 10 machine, current with all the security updates. I had trusted to Windows Defender for now and to be fair to Defender, it did flag up that something bad was occurring. With its DEATH SCREAMS !!! Yep. Nastie took out Defender first and proceeded to install all sorts of Bad Stuff.<br /><br />But I'm getting ahead of myself there.<br /><br />I was looking for a convertor to turn FLAC audio tracks into MP3s that iTunes could understand. Easy enough (I'll be using a questionable quality but safe online convertor). I looked at a reviews site, which pointed me towards a program called Super. Looked good, downloaded it, installed it.<br /><br />And then the malware gets in. Malwarebytes is an excellent program in itself for getting rid of this stuff but even that has its limits. It spotted 1153 bad items in its first scan.<br /><br />Symptoms - youtube was utterly broken, many other sites were reporting security compromises, Windows 10 was going nuts with the "An application has caused a problem with this file extension, it has been reset." If you have Windows 10 patched up, you'll be sick of those.<br /><br />The browser security was messed up by one part of the nastie which was sitting in the middle intercepting the calls (I should really reset a few passwords) and breaking the trust chain. Youtube was also messed up by adverts coming in with Russian script. Not sure what the point of those are, if you don't understand the language, you ain't gonna pay attention.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L_zZIbn7sBM/WVv8oyDl97I/AAAAAAAAD3I/KriQxgMEvLIwsNfX3gwnv6SJy6WywaxowCLcBGAs/s1600/b9b348071d23fa99918ff32b99cf0b4072f1751c630226790ea179391a251047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="625" height="239" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L_zZIbn7sBM/WVv8oyDl97I/AAAAAAAAD3I/KriQxgMEvLIwsNfX3gwnv6SJy6WywaxowCLcBGAs/s320/b9b348071d23fa99918ff32b99cf0b4072f1751c630226790ea179391a251047.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>It wasn't that bad but it did take almost extreme measures to get rid of the problem.<br /><br />If you suspect something odd is happening with your machine, follow these steps.<br /><br />1 - DO NOT PANIC !<br /><br />The first instinct if you've been hit by a virus is to go nuts changing things like passwords. Don't do that. At least, not on the suspect machine. Keyloggers are quite common and if you change the password before removing the keylogger, you have just sent your username and password combination to the person the keylogger is reporting to.<br /><br />Wait until after the machine is clean or better still, change the passwords on another machine that is clean.<br /><br />2 - Run a scan from something like Malwarebytes.<br /><br />Malwarebytes Anti Malware (MBAM) is a top program that deals with most Internet Nasties. It couldn't cope with this one but .... I think this one was especially tenacious. Follow the process in MBAM, let it clean and reboot as necessary. Keep running the MBAM scans until it reports no threats.<br /><br />And then run one of the free online virus scans (I used ESET) to confirm that the machine is clean.<br /><br />Aside - sometimes Malwarebytes doesn't have success. In this case, the Nastie was particularly tenacious with 2 processes running in Windows that I could identify, more processes running as browser extensions and undoubtedly a few more besides that. Any one of those left behind and the machine would be reinfected.<br /><br />3 - Ask Google how to get rid of the leftovers.<br /><br />This is probably a waste of time to be honest. I looked up the name of the Nastie on various sites and they were pretty much just carbon copies of "Reboot in Safe Mode, remove all files associated with Nastie." Ok. Tell me what files are associated with the Bad Stuff.<br /><br />Useless.<br /><br />4 - Use a competent antivirus.<br /><br />I've broken a run of 5.5 years without a decent anti-virus, having trusted Windows Defender up to now. Bitdefender won the vote of the online review site jury and is currently doing a full machine scan.<br /><br />5 - Look into System Restore to resolve the problem.<br /><br />This seems to have done the trick here. I haven't noticed any symptoms of the Nastie since running that last night. It does reset your data as well as the system files but I hadn't worked on anything saved locally since the Restore although it reset a few of the "Where am I?" in the youtube playlists I'm running through.<br /><br />Hopefully that's the problem resolved now, although it seemed to be a particularly tenacious bit of malware.<br /><br />I've learned my lesson and I'm looking to Bitdefender to do a bit more than croak at the first sign of infection like Defender did.<br /><br />Stay safe on the interwebs ! Sleepypetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11143274290029186546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17680747.post-87442027759951599982017-07-01T21:32:00.000+01:002017-07-01T21:32:04.276+01:00Cos .... random thoughts ...Gosh.<br /><br />Over a week again since last post. Slipping again !<br /><br />I've been partly looking inwards again, partly being very frustrated at a couple of things. Definitely looking forward to the chats I have with a few people. Lovely people get the mind directed towards good things and away from the bad.<br /><br />And I know a few lovely people who raise my spirits when the messages come in.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vTmqsAevs7M/UtGkhM8xw0I/AAAAAAAAA50/h5jpUg50MpkQ-P9k7sQfD6T0--LqTRxPACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/1533789_560425960708416_2016217714_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="246" data-original-width="205" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vTmqsAevs7M/UtGkhM8xw0I/AAAAAAAAA50/h5jpUg50MpkQ-P9k7sQfD6T0--LqTRxPACPcBGAYYCw/s400/1533789_560425960708416_2016217714_n.jpg" width="333" /></a></div>I do like the games. But I like talking to and interacting with good people even more.<br /><br />Smiles bring smiles.<br /><br />Struggling at the moment though. I read something that described High Functioning Depression the other day and it's Internet Doctoring again but I do share a lot of those symptoms. I definitely have trouble getting myself going at the moment, with it being a real struggle to do anything for myself. I'm much better at doing things for others.<br /><br />I'm extremely self critical (including about not posting here too much!) and the frustrations about the new IT at work have been (probably very justifiably because the system is garbage) getting to me. I like to be able to get work done and it's just .... getting in the way.<br /><br />Condition of me probably doesn't help there. My feet are the worst bit still and are taking a while to repair. But ... when I'm able to leave them alone, there is actual progress. It's getting there, still extremely slowly and prone to quick setbacks but ... it's improving bit by bit.<br /><br />Still gets to me though. I feel the worn down ness again although I think I have been getting more sleep. It does help perhaps that I've been going to bed at more reasonable times (although that has been due to being absolutely shattered !)<br /><br />How about those good things though ?<br /><br />I have bought 2.5 games so far in the Steam sale and there are likely to be 2 more .... The 2.5 I have acquired are Stardew Valley, Starbound and a DLC pack for Motorsport Manager. Plus soundtracks for Stardew and Starbound.<br /><br />I've been enjoying the soundtracks of Stardew and Starbound although I haven't opened the games yet. I had a peek at the Motorsport Manager DLC and a couple of races with the new bits (GT cars and a KERS mechanic) but I've been concentrating on the save game that I've had going for a little while now. It's to take a very weak team and get them winning at the top. After a few seasons dominating the middle championship (to generate money to build up stuff to get more money to get a money warchest for competing at the top), I've had the team struggling in their first run in the top tier. They're 8th best team at the moment, which is probably better than can be hoped for. Gonna build from there and should catch up.<br /><br />I've been enjoying the Motorsport Manager.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KZNvbYsIxiI/WVgBB9DWYAI/AAAAAAAAD24/aDe8JTSs3GoLmcXoj9dKhRkRCEgf5TyiACLcBGAs/s1600/20170701174026_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KZNvbYsIxiI/WVgBB9DWYAI/AAAAAAAAD24/aDe8JTSs3GoLmcXoj9dKhRkRCEgf5TyiACLcBGAs/s400/20170701174026_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Although you do have to ignore the drivers when they get too keen. Improve on a time set in the dry when it's tipping it down ? I don't think so Mr Becker. It's perhaps more interesting to play when you're mid field than when you're dominating, because skill as a player and your decisions count more. Managed to get a driver finish on the same lap as the leaders in the last race, which is first time that season. I did have to hack the save game though, my championship expectations got set to a "I'm sure I didn't pick that" too high level of 6th, which nearly saw my person fired ... Oops. I only modified the championship expectation to what it should have been - sorted.<br /><br />Watching the cricket has been good. The Champions Trophy was good when the weather started cooperating, lots of good games with close results. I'm looking forward to a good game tomorrow between the ladies teams of England and Sri Lanka. Fingers crossed for an England win and some spectacular keeping from Sarah Taylor. It's good to see that one back, she's an absolute legend behind the stumps.<br /><br />I miss playing the cricket but at the same time, I remember what it was like around the games. Cricket brings pain. And fun. But also a lot of pain. I have trouble sometimes gripping things due to the damage to my knuckles from nearly caught cricket balls. It's the nearly caught ones that murder your bones.<br /><br />The games ? I'm likely to buy 2 more games in the steam sale and then that'll probably be it.<br /><br />Halcyon 6 is a curious one. It is set immediately after the New Terra Homeworld gets demolished by aliens and you're the last hope, living on a highly advanced alien starbase from which you build a fleet to kick those aliens back to their own dimension. Lots of character in this game.<br /><br />Bounty Train is a light hearted looking one where you are a train driver in a 19th century America. The aim is to trade, fight, upgrade and improve your train so you can get the funds to buy control of your dad's old company.<br /><br />I've been watching a couple of playthroughs of these games to try and make my mind up and .... Yep. It's dangerous who and what you watch sometimes. Did I mention both of these games come with soundtracks ? :-D.<br /><br />Talking about watching things .... it is the cricket season now and that does tend to take priority with what's on the telly but .... My series link list has seriously diminished ! It used to be up to I think 14 things being recorded, it's now at 5 ... (F1, Dark Matter, Killjoys, Deadliest Catch, Mountain Men). Where did the shows go ? :-). Means I can catch up on the recordings and maybe, just maybe watch a few of the series of dvd that I've been meaning to watch for ages just not really had time.<br /><br />The Doctor Who finale was really something though wasn't it. I won't do the spoiler thing but ... special finish to a very good series. I did like Bill, her actress did a stellar job all the way through the series and Peter Capaldi has followed in the footsteps of all those who went before of Perhaps ... Perhaps ... being the Best Doctor Ever. They've all been amazing in their own ways, all been different. From the madness of Matt Smith, to the gravitas of Peter Capaldi.<br /><br />I've definitely enjoyed his time as Doctor, although I'm not sure there will be a "I'm not crying, you're crying" moment like when the Curator turned up in the 50th anniversary special. Tom Baker was born for the role.<br /><br />So yeah. Hanging in there.<br /><br />Struggling a bit. (Aren't we all?)<br /><br />Looking for a bit of an escape route.<br /><br />And being very grateful to friends who give me some of that escape route and help with the struggles.Sleepypetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11143274290029186546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17680747.post-23285409901235219742017-06-22T21:35:00.002+01:002017-06-22T21:35:37.720+01:00Steam sale is upon us !Hide the credit cards !<br /><br />Prepare space for the new games !!<br /><br />Yes those games !!!<br /><br />The ones we'll never play !!!!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-irwNIIZMbrc/WUweYnLZ7SI/AAAAAAAAD2Y/cswnLqwhH9APpAbbJWkcBio7ahPzGniRACLcBGAs/s1600/fb81b2db304043373037ac715e59bef8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="500" height="237" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-irwNIIZMbrc/WUweYnLZ7SI/AAAAAAAAD2Y/cswnLqwhH9APpAbbJWkcBio7ahPzGniRACLcBGAs/s320/fb81b2db304043373037ac715e59bef8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>For those not knowing about the computer games, Steam is an online digital game (and other things) distribution system. It's come to dominate the market. Most games sold now are either self published or come under the Steam system in one way or another. So when the Steam sale comes along, it's a big thing.<br /><br />My games collection on Steam is already fairly hefty (with some games I've never even installed too - oops. They came as part of bundles mostly ...) but there will be a few more appearing this time around.<br /><br />Let's see ... what are the highlights on the list at the moment. Going in the order that Steam is showing them to me :<br /><br />Nier Automata - a fighty android game with quirks that look like it would make an interesting game. I've only heard good things about this game but ... It's a similar style to Mass Effect Andromeda and Deus Ex Mankind Divided, both of which I need to actually play and complete. (Halfway through Mass Effect, barely started Deus Ex MD). And it's only 30% off. It stays in the wishlist.<br /><br />Stardew Valley - a farming game with huge amounts of charm. I've watched 1 and a half playthroughs of this and it got me interested. 40% off, although I'd be buying partly for a friend, partly for picking up the soundtrack.<br /><br />Watch Dogs 2 - may buy at some point but at a base price of £45 and 50% off, hell no. I like my games but I don't like to be ripped off. Refusing to pay inflated prices means you can buy more games. Same goes for Quantum Break and Dying Light.<br /><br />Destination Ares looks fun - it's an Early Access game which has you managing a ramshackle colony ship. Am curious but ... I rarely indulge in Early Access, better to wait until games are actually ready. Space Pirates and Zombies 2 is another promising Early Access game.<br /><br />Bounty Train - set in 19th America with you being a privateer operator of a train. Bit like Elite on rails with quests and a proper storyline and variation. Looks very interesting. Perhaps £9.50 in sale price is a bit rich though.<br /><br />80 Days ! Act out the Willy Fogg story as you attempt to make your way around the world in under 80 Days. I'd highly recommend the Michael Palin series about this, where he tried it in the modern world (without cheating with aircraft). he brought his charm and wit to that series and it's a bit of magic. Ahh - the game, currently £2.80 and the cheapest I've seen it. More interested in it on iPad though.<br /><br />Halcyon 6 Starbase Commander - lots of depth on this one. It's a mix between starbase managing, simple starship combat and simple away team fights. Emphasis on simple. Also looks like fun on the videos. Curious about it for 50% off.<br /><br />Blood Bowl 2 for 66% off ? Maybe .... although Blood Bowl 1 is one of few games that makes me ragequit it. Games Workshop dice based games are like that. Same comment goes for Mordheim - promising but daft mechanics and still a bit pricier than what I'd want to spend on it.<br /><br />Duskers - super atmospheric post galaxy apocalypse game in space where your interaction with the derelicts is through the limited sensors of drones which break down very rapidly. One for super high tension. 50% off for £7.50. If I were rich maybe.<br /><br />Starbound is 33% off. This one's on my buy list :-D.<br /><br />And then there are some more like Rimworld (no discount, no buy), Enter the Gungeon (looks fun, dunno if it's my type of game), Rezrog (too new for discount), Starship Corporation (needs more time in the oven), The Long Dark (good prospect, now feels meh)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FnmqPlUYYuk/VdMRJbF6RiI/AAAAAAAACYA/FucHt2nJ-8oHjwFGaa7PD1HGDZRyMptjwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/11391561_10153106113178778_8877168326191349586_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="215" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FnmqPlUYYuk/VdMRJbF6RiI/AAAAAAAACYA/FucHt2nJ-8oHjwFGaa7PD1HGDZRyMptjwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/11391561_10153106113178778_8877168326191349586_n.jpg" /></a></div>Yep. I have the games about world domination too.<br /><br />So what'll I get and maybe get ?<br /><br />Stardew Valley, Starbound and Motorsport Manager's GT DLC are certainties.<br /><br />Icarus Starship Command Simulator is a maybe, as are Duskers, Halcyon 6, Bounty Train and 80 Days. Maybe Europa Universalis IV too, although I think that one would scare me with its depth.<br /><br />And games I'd heartily recommend but have already are : Stellaris, Motorsport Manager, XCom 2, Deus Ex Human Revolution, Transistor and Elite Dangerous for 50% off.<br /><br />Although maybe not spending anything just yet because in the first few hours of the Steam sale, the shop front crawls to a halt as it can't handle the traffic.<br /><br />Oh and ....<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mgJ1ljDF3b0/WUwqDaGNuGI/AAAAAAAAD2o/iB2SmX2ytros86zILPBJyLNkuJX3614cwCLcBGAs/s1600/3bd5b5d307c70077f3338ef5ca4d5bd9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mgJ1ljDF3b0/WUwqDaGNuGI/AAAAAAAAD2o/iB2SmX2ytros86zILPBJyLNkuJX3614cwCLcBGAs/s320/3bd5b5d307c70077f3338ef5ca4d5bd9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Cya !Sleepypetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11143274290029186546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17680747.post-1259855542349980972017-06-20T20:48:00.000+01:002017-06-20T20:48:08.104+01:00Too darn hotVery hot in GB today. Well. Not as hot as it is in Phoenix today (some aircraft are grounded !) but we're not really equipped to deal with extremes of temperature here.<br /><br />Actually, we don't do that well in cold weather either but that's mainly down to people being idiots on the roads and politicians being idiots with winter fuel allowances.<br /><br />Anyway. This post is meant totally in jest, to poke a bit of humour at the hot situation here at the moment. Take none of it seriously ! This could go absolutely anywhere (there are no plans here!) And I hope there are more than a few chuckles in there.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y0kUR1MLBeU/WUlzvY3gc0I/AAAAAAAAD18/gCNaNS6vnJU4_pWX86ygO7pQGGuwr8Z5wCLcBGAs/s1600/10525957_741208669271833_3816757422810699911_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y0kUR1MLBeU/WUlzvY3gc0I/AAAAAAAAD18/gCNaNS6vnJU4_pWX86ygO7pQGGuwr8Z5wCLcBGAs/s320/10525957_741208669271833_3816757422810699911_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I saw something horrid today.<br /><br />Someone melted. In the street. It's true !!! They had the misfortune to be standing near a storm drain too. Poof ! Down the drain. I don't think we'll see them again. All that is left is a pile of clothes and a forlorn pair of boots. I think someone was attempting to phone the family but the mobile left behind in one of the pockets was scorching and .... welded itself to their hand.<br /><br />Samaritan and phone are now waiting for an ambulance.<br /><br />Good luck to them ! A white van man over there is looking very puzzled at his melted tyres. I hope the ambulance fares better.<br /><br />I narrowly avoided a stampede earlier. It started with the sound of an ice cream van .... I think the ice cream man is now in a PTSD ward.<br /><br />We have been warned away from going near Currys up at the Mall. A group from a council house estate have set up a primitive dome (with lots of fans) with a sign : "Aircondome". I hear the conditions are : "Two men enter !!! One man leaves with an air conditioner."<br /><br />The trains are not moving. The rails have melted. Trains are stuck to the rails. One train even disappeared into the earth when the rails and the concrete underneath melted under the weight. There are sad tones of mobile phone ring tones coming from the deep. Yep. Crazy Frog has been buried.<br /><br />Ice cubes are now more valuable than gold. More than platinum even !<br /><br />A fight broke out at the local coffee shop when they announced that they were down to the last 5 cooler coffees.<br /><br />Car parks with tarmac are now more hazardous than quicksand. I have actually seen with my own eyes (actually true, albeit 19 years ago) a computer sinking into the hot, melted tarmac. When they prised it out of the ground, there were four mysterious squares. Like the crop circle of the car park.<br /><br />Aircraft are being grounded. They've been able to solve the tyre on tarmac problem but it is too hot for the engines plus the metal boarding ramps are scorching.<br /><br />People have been evacuated from work due to the fire alarms activating. The sensors believed it was "OMG IT'S BURNING !" temperature.<br /><br />Swimming pools are suffering extreme overcrowding.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vNrNB5qrgp8/WUl26DtYQCI/AAAAAAAAD2I/bqpR_cARptwR29Mn1bh3l1BjLbYeNuurgCLcBGAs/s1600/crowded-swimming-pools-0%255B10%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="521" data-original-width="790" height="211" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vNrNB5qrgp8/WUl26DtYQCI/AAAAAAAAD2I/bqpR_cARptwR29Mn1bh3l1BjLbYeNuurgCLcBGAs/s320/crowded-swimming-pools-0%255B10%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Sardines are now laughing at the thought of these people crammed into the pools.<br /><br />A UFO was spotted in orbit briefly. It scanned the country with a heat beam and the UFO is not to be seen any more. Psychically sensitive people went into a trance and chanted "Axlt Bbooolm". No one knew what they meant but the extreme heat rash that erupted on them suggested they were picking up extreme temperature.<br /><br />On that .... a grocery store selling mercury thermometers was evacuated after the tops of the thermometers started flying loose. They were bursting on the pressure from the mercury filling up the tubes. A Hazmat team has been called to clean up the mercury but ... those melted tyres again. I think they're also asking for help from extreme conditions rescue personnel.<br /><br />Mount Snowdon has become an active volcano and erupted again.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4VY9eAUnWo8/S93P4i1xKHI/AAAAAAAAAU0/NGECAUxf6ZAVlPrbDMQC-yvdekAymLSJwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Snowdon%2Bdragon%2Blarge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4VY9eAUnWo8/S93P4i1xKHI/AAAAAAAAAU0/NGECAUxf6ZAVlPrbDMQC-yvdekAymLSJwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Snowdon%2Bdragon%2Blarge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This fella looks cheerful but he may be the last of his kind. The erupting Snowdon incinerated the gift shop at the summit (Yep ! A mountain with a gift shop - and a railway) where he came from.<br /><br />A swimmer was rescued from attempting to cross the channel. The lobsters had been taking turns to pinch them to test how well the swimmer was cooked in the boiling waters of the channel.<br /><br />Splinter groups of our more extreme political parties are blaming the Venusians while others are campaigning for an orbital parasol to give us some shade.<br /><br />Christian Priests are giving up their heavy robes for the lighter, airier garb of Muslim Imams in a show of religious solidarity.<br /><br />Reservoirs have emptied overnight. The Lake District is to be renamed Death Hills. The people who attempt Land Speed records are looking at the dried out Lincolnshire Fens as their new flat racing ground.<br /><br />Yep.<br /><br />It's getting bad here and I am sure there are worse stories to come.<br /><br />Hang in there and I hope you're close to air conditioning or fans !Sleepypetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11143274290029186546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17680747.post-7366715861317206522017-06-18T20:55:00.001+01:002017-06-18T20:55:24.804+01:00Hot RacingFirst up,<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fiPiqI4xTuo/WUbMkAosYjI/AAAAAAAAD1c/ubdCMsRakHE8yM_kkAhjk6sSszqS-zpQQCLcBGAs/s1600/lrgscale461542a-Boofle-Fathers-Day-Card.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="1000" height="256" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fiPiqI4xTuo/WUbMkAosYjI/AAAAAAAAD1c/ubdCMsRakHE8yM_kkAhjk6sSszqS-zpQQCLcBGAs/s400/lrgscale461542a-Boofle-Fathers-Day-Card.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there ! I've just given mine a call. He's doing all right, which is better than usual ! He's been breaking more things, including his arm which just came out of plaster. Hope he'll be ok.<br /><br />We both tend to bull on through our problems and just do things anyway, which tends to aggravate the problems. Well, I do when I summon up the motivation to start. That's a really bad habit. I need to actually initiate more jobs that need to be done (like the washing is out of the machine but I need to hang it up).<br /><br />I will go back to the doctors ... soon. What I really need to do is stop helping the feet by aggressive cleaning, it just does more damage. There's a lot of scar tissue on my feet I think and trying to clean that up sees me going too far and causing damage. But it is getting there, ever so slowly and not helped by me attacking it.<br /><br />Enough about me though. Too hot ! Far too hot !<br /><br />I was out again on Friday for a fun games and dinner session and I think that pretty much finished me off. Wasn't feeling at all well yesterday. Not ill, just out of sorts and not really wanting to do much apart from watch Le Mans. (Hence the washing going on today instead of yesterday). I did manage to head out for pizza, although that would have put the kybosh on attempting to sleep normally.<br /><br />One year, I'll actually stay up for the whole of the Le Mans race. I've done a couple of all nighters this year thanks to a Stellaris game that has a magic "just a few more months to next tech" factor. But I wasn't particularly feeling interested in playing games yesterday, instead catching up on a few videos.<br /><br />I'll try and keep up with some onrunning series but a lot of the time, I'll relegate the playlists to a slow mode, where I give up trying to keep up with releases and just watch a few at a time in my own time. So what am I watching at the moment ? It sometimes starts as evaluating a game, sometimes because I really like the presenter/player, sometimes because watching the game is more enjoyable than playing it.<br /><br />Watch Dogs 2 with Hannah is on in the background at the moment - it's an open world game that tries to have as much fun as possible with its setting and does what it does quite well. Not bought it ... yet.<br />Rezrog (with Katherine of Sky) looks very promising as a game. Could be odd mechanics though. It's a dungeon crawler game where you take one single hero through to beat the dungeon.<br />Dungeons II with Aavak is a dungeon builder game. I think I got this as a freebie but this time, it's evaluating the game. I haven't actually watched one of these videos yet.<br />Factorio (with Katherine of Sky again) is a factory building game. You crash land on a planet with rather nasty wildlife and have to build a factory to research your way into a rocket. I've tried starting this and it intimidates me ... Or is that trying to get one of the tough achievements on my first run through.<br />Northgard with LadyShelab is one that interests me as a simple/depth real time strategy inspired by the old Settlers games. Another I probably won't buy but it is interesting ...<br />Transport Fever with Shenryyr is a new take on doing planes, trains, automobiles and boats. Not buying this one because the game has too many bugs but I'm enjoying listening and watching.<br /><br />Some of them have that gift of making the game fun and interesting, it does help if there is a wonderful voice there like the warm voice of Katherine of Sky and the about-to-break-into-song voice of Radderss on the streaming. There might even be a break into laughter (and lots of swearing) Chrissa stream later.<br /><br />On the gaming for me front there is Stellaris (of course). I've abandoned my boring pacifist far too strong and dominating the galaxy race for a race of pure evil.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NvZAQAUWrp8/WUbT1vG5lLI/AAAAAAAAD1s/4FDU8S1x090E3WvqFLZLaaKJfzlcUcavwCLcBGAs/s1600/20170618132107_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NvZAQAUWrp8/WUbT1vG5lLI/AAAAAAAAD1s/4FDU8S1x090E3WvqFLZLaaKJfzlcUcavwCLcBGAs/s400/20170618132107_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Yes. We burned the neighbour's long lost holy book before invading them and replacing all their leaders with our people. Our next plan is to confiscate the tea and force them to have coffee instead (you can't actually do this in game). I may have overdone it again on this one, my race has a silly powerful economy although I have affected that somewhat by choosing a ring galaxy (has all the planets concentrated into a band, means more star systems under your control)<br /><br />Le Mans ! It was an epic race this year. Much different to previous Le Mans, where the competition was between the manufacturers of the top cars. The result of the entire event was in doubt this year after much mechanical gremlin trouble was had.<br /><br />Toyota brought 3 cars, 2 of which dramatically failed on track within 30 minutes of each other and couldn't be dragged back to a garage where the third Toyota was being mended. They got the third stricken Toyota out again and it finished 9th after losing 2 hours.<br />Porsche brought 2 cars, 1 of which lost 90 minutes to having a broken front end fixed. (It's where the electric motor lives). The second Porsche broke down within 2 hours of the finish. Very dramatic again. At the time, a LMP2 (fast prototype, not hybrid) car was leading ....<br /><br />And was overhauled within 30 minutes of the finish. But that wasn't the closest finish ... An Aston Martin and Corvette of GTE Pro were locked in battle right up to the final lap, where the Corvette ran out of tyre grip and binned it off the track. Pressure tells ... and the result said Aston Martin win.<br /><br />Another epic Le Mans. The trick is to ignore most of it and wake up for the drama. There is a story that unfolds through these races. Like the two broken cars that came out again to win. Like an Audi last year (I think !) that had a major accident coming back on three wheels .... which was repaired and out again before the crash barriers were fixed. Like last year's Toyota disaster where the car leading by a lap failed with 5 minutes to go.<br /><br />Winning for 23 hours 55 minutes does not win a 24 hour race ...<br /><br />Huge cheers again for the entertainment this year around. I must get my passport updated (and my outsides fixed) so I can go to the actual event.<br /><br />I didn't manage to stay awake this time. Again. I had mixed feelings there because I knew I would have problems due to the pizza if I tried for sleep, I just emerged when the problems were about to become ... a problem. So to speak. This year I went for nappage at 3.30am and emerged at about 9.30am. Caught up via the Twitters, there are a lot of active Twitter accounts that capture the most important events.<br /><br />I'm off work again tomorrow, which should help my feet out if I let them.<br /><br />It's been a good weekend. I resisted going to Weston air show, which sounds like it was a good idea because the M5 road there was supposedly at car park stations. Le Mans was even more epic organised unpredictable chaos than usual and Friday's games and dinner was extremely enjoyable.<br /><br />(We'll just ignore the not feeling great yesterday !)Sleepypetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11143274290029186546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17680747.post-32022400060386412602017-06-13T22:52:00.000+01:002017-06-13T22:52:00.423+01:00Collections of TechAfter mentioning various bits of tech and how I've been using them to create the last couple of posts, I thought I'd talk a bit more about them ....<br /><br />The warts, the good, the simples, the annoying, the too complicated to actually work ....<br /><br />Lots ! Maybe.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MjUQz-CatVg/WUBSSJLXeLI/AAAAAAAAD1A/ybmuqF8fztMRP7wto4HiVSnbnuGsdHJXQCLcBGAs/s1600/5b29656ddc91a2bf11ccf8b88f5ab95f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="346" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MjUQz-CatVg/WUBSSJLXeLI/AAAAAAAAD1A/ybmuqF8fztMRP7wto4HiVSnbnuGsdHJXQCLcBGAs/s320/5b29656ddc91a2bf11ccf8b88f5ab95f.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>Let's start with Comic Con. Two bits of tech there - the phone and the camera.<br /><br />The phone doesn't do very well at Comic Con. I think it's because there are far too many other phones out there asking for the attention of the limited cell towers, so none of them get any data out and they burn through their batteries trying to get that signal through. You'd probably be better leaving phones in the car, although their cameras are doing better and better now.<br /><br />Talking of cameras .... I really like my camera. I like it more and more the more I use it. The only problem I have with it is that it doesn't talk to my computers, although that isn't a serious issue because I can just take the memory card out and transfer pictures over that way.<br /><br />It's a Canon Ixus 265 (disclosure note - I paid for it ! No freebies alas). It's an instant compact digital camera, a few years old now. It replaced a Nikon Coolpix from much longer ago, which would murder batteries at an alarming rate. The Canon is far better (modern efficiency), with the batteries lasting through Comic Con plus half of Lords. One bit of daftness though, it stays on 3 bars out of 3 for a very long time, then goes through 2 and 1 bar very quickly.<br /><br />It's an excellent camera. Most of the Lords pics were taken at long range, maximum optical zoom (there's a digital zoom too) with the camera braced on my knee. It works pretty well at that, hopefully the picture quality in the Lords post shows that. There must be some kind of stabilisation system in there that stops motion blur. You can also control it from an iOS thingy or Android widget (like my phone) with it hooking up via a wifi signal that the camera broadcasts. Pop the phone on a tripod, retreat to a suitable distance, take picture.<br /><br />The wifi signal is also how I get the pictures off the camera for broadcasting to Twit/Book on the day. Very effective, works well although it does take a few seconds for the phone to pick up the camera. Far better than the attempt at using Near Field Comms, this didn't want to play at all.<br /><br />All this work does take it out of the batteries though. The phone battery was down to 30% by the middle of the day. Better than an Iphone but still ... Pretty low.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VM8qth_13rI/WUBX8adngRI/AAAAAAAAD1M/gjkWKI4J1fgdXAPXXHGIJkIFsg7ded7oQCLcBGAs/s1600/1146429617-1135437746-pererab-resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="450" height="211" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VM8qth_13rI/WUBX8adngRI/AAAAAAAAD1M/gjkWKI4J1fgdXAPXXHGIJkIFsg7ded7oQCLcBGAs/s320/1146429617-1135437746-pererab-resize.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Quite.<br /><br />I now have 3 battery packs. If you get one of these, pay attention to 2 things :<br />Whether it has charge level lights (very important !)<br />The mAh (milliAmp hour) rating of the battery.<br /><br />The charge level lights tell you how much juice to expect out of it, plus they'll tell you if your battery pack is a waste of time or not. One of my 3 battery packs is something useless by the Kit label. It claims 4000mAh but barely put 10% charge into my phone before it died. There are no lights on that to tell you if it has any charge.<br /><br />That mAh thing is a rating of how much energy is in the battery pack and it's useful to look up your phone to see how much % phone battery charge you can expect out of the pack. My phone is now a Samsung Galaxy S7 with a 3000mAh battery and I picked up a Pebble battery from Lords which claims "2.5 smartphone recharges !" from a 3900mAh battery. Nope. One and a bit at best, on the day the precharged pack took the phone from 30% up to the high 80s. Happy with that. It should do better when I'm not using the phone for Twit/Book, Discord and the camera.<br /><br />The charge level lights are most important though. Blinky lights are best.<br /><br />Hmm - what else !<br /><br />I'm in one of those frames of mind again where I get random thoughts that then disappear as quickly as they arrive.<br /><br />My old iPhone has been pressed into service as an iPod. It's quite happy doing that in the car again now, after not doing so well when I had two phones connected via Bluetooth in the last car. New car better. Yeah, Bluetooth has impressed me as a connection method. It's far more effective and reliable than the FM retransmitters I used in the cars before. Doesn't get jammed out by commercial radio for a start. If my Airport Express widget that I use for network audio streaming becomes non-viable, I will buy a Bluetooth widget instead. Sorted.<br /><br />My other phone has a bit of trouble though. It loses text messages ...<br /><br />This is very bad.<br /><br />The fix seems to be to clear the cache data and then I start receiving text messages again. For any Google Hunters, it's a Samsung Galaxy S7 having problems receiving text messages and the fix has been to clear the cache data partition. Google will show you sites with the instructions !<br /><br />Laptop - I've been starting to investigate my next laptop .... I'm actually investigating whether I need a desktop upgrade but I think that can wait. The desktop needs performance, which I'm happy with at the moment. The laptop needs hard disc space and is down to 55GB free out of 250. Because I can't replace the hard disc with a bigger one (it's Apple), filling up the drive with too much music is what would trigger an upgrade. That's a while off because my music library is only up to 95GB.<br /><br />Only ? :-D.<br /><br />The next laptop will be something different. Microsoft are going in bad directions at the moment with Windows 10. It started out as an excellent system, a worthy upgrade but it's been getting worse with each forced update (Anniversary ed, Creators update). It is less stable now. Apple are worse, I can no longer talk to devices from the Macbook which it was happy to talk to before. Shame on you Apple. I will not be buying anything more from Apple.<br /><br />It'll be a Linux machine, which loses some compatibility but offers similar enough applications to the norm to make that not a problem. The main problem is games .... but I rarely play games on the laptop. Music and connectivity to the phone might be an issue that can be worked around through alternate software.<br /><br />The desktop has to stay anchored to Windows due to games.<br /><br />Any more tech ?<br /><br />There's always room for more tech. Later !Sleepypetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11143274290029186546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17680747.post-70040629832262271602017-06-11T13:47:00.001+01:002017-06-11T13:47:31.578+01:00Off to Lords !This has become an annual pilgrimage now, although it nearly didn't happen this year.<br /><br />The Interservices Twenty 20 tournament is something I've attended for a good few years now (I have lost count ...). It involves teams from Army, Navy and Air Force and is in a triangular format where each team plays each other. This year, Navy took on the Air Force first, with the losers staying on to face the Army. Then the last game would be winners of the first vs the Army.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W24QEVv6yZs/WT0yojHYrpI/AAAAAAAADzU/0y1h_UaKzgojfNcOWTZEPgf6UMWpyMDLwCLcB/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W24QEVv6yZs/WT0yojHYrpI/AAAAAAAADzU/0y1h_UaKzgojfNcOWTZEPgf6UMWpyMDLwCLcB/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Lords was looking fabulous as per usual, that new Warner stand over there looks the business, joining the more traditional Lords Pavilion.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rU8CuQSgEV8/WT0y1Y-99yI/AAAAAAAADzY/6ka-3yHHArkR-ZRIXbEiiOUs_lT_KEqMwCLcB/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rU8CuQSgEV8/WT0y1Y-99yI/AAAAAAAADzY/6ka-3yHHArkR-ZRIXbEiiOUs_lT_KEqMwCLcB/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Real piece of history over there. Oh and as per always, click for bigger on the pictures, these are all taken on my decent camera (Ixus 265) which gives very impressive picture resolutions. I must get its second battery charged up again ...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D6vN097l64c/WT0zrShLEpI/AAAAAAAADzg/gG4gLVCdgxIA1mGwxb3-VlKZN-0rDwIdQCLcB/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D6vN097l64c/WT0zrShLEpI/AAAAAAAADzg/gG4gLVCdgxIA1mGwxb3-VlKZN-0rDwIdQCLcB/s320/5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Camera zooms well ? Ha - this was taken with the camera at maximum zoom, camera rested on my knee to minimise the movement ... Oh wait ! The cricket - Navy bowlers and tight fielding were keeping a good rein on the Air Force batsmen who were often spectacular (Swipe above !) but ineffective (Miss ! above). Air Force did eventually get going late on to set a target of 151.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O3Wc8dPOp5c/WT00Vh4H1PI/AAAAAAAADzo/_spOcNCQKaQUY2bxdS1MPKQVymeto6KigCLcB/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O3Wc8dPOp5c/WT00Vh4H1PI/AAAAAAAADzo/_spOcNCQKaQUY2bxdS1MPKQVymeto6KigCLcB/s320/9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Navy innings was a tale of two ends ... One opener was blasting his side to a win that was looking easy, the other end was horridly bogged down. (Been there, it happens). This game was really tense. It went right down to the wire, the last over, the last ball. Our opener got all the way to 99 not out, we thought he had reached the century but alas it was not to be with the final run being marked down as a leg bye (an extra run off the pads instead of the bat which isn't scored to the batsman).<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JQhPEENCAjw/WT01XLPrrzI/AAAAAAAADz0/4H2AY9w2iq4loJBlr6lvEIeoFnybK1n3wCLcB/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JQhPEENCAjw/WT01XLPrrzI/AAAAAAAADz0/4H2AY9w2iq4loJBlr6lvEIeoFnybK1n3wCLcB/s320/12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Result - a tie with the Navy being given the result by virtue of losing fewer wickets. Next up - the Royal Air Force take the field again against the Army (with a short interlude for quick cricket for the kids and lunch hunting for me - it was a rather lush chicken burger).<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PHUD97u5QYk/WT018Li1oNI/AAAAAAAADz8/q7Uq4umN0BoC6SiBwwUMwoboTIeg5ox3QCLcB/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PHUD97u5QYk/WT018Li1oNI/AAAAAAAADz8/q7Uq4umN0BoC6SiBwwUMwoboTIeg5ox3QCLcB/s320/14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And this was one of a few occasions where the sun threatened to emerge from behind the clouds. We got all of the expected play in, despite a very light amount of occasional drizzle which was enough to get a few spectators moving but didn't cause any excitement for the ground staff.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ccFxM7HN5MI/WT02TXHFk_I/AAAAAAAAD0A/LG6_grou4_0OerfzM1zkVcv4rgDxKwAWACLcB/s1600/19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ccFxM7HN5MI/WT02TXHFk_I/AAAAAAAAD0A/LG6_grou4_0OerfzM1zkVcv4rgDxKwAWACLcB/s320/19.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This game saw a quite cagey start with the two openers falling for 1 each before the numbers 3 and 4 came in and well and truly turned the tide. They kept pace with each other with the fella above soon hitting his way to an excellent 81 and his side to 175 for 3. A bit too much for the Air Force, who's innings can be summed up by :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mslESVyJ9JI/WT025ttSEhI/AAAAAAAAD0I/IHmw6pIfsYc2-88evXfzvYNlNUAIPW7-QCLcB/s1600/22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mslESVyJ9JI/WT025ttSEhI/AAAAAAAAD0I/IHmw6pIfsYc2-88evXfzvYNlNUAIPW7-QCLcB/s320/22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Yep. They didn't have much of an answer for the Army's superior bowling and fielding and wickets continually fell leaving them well and truly in third at 102 all out. Their number 3 got half the runs and half the wickets. Star of the day. Cue the marching band for the next interval.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VKLgh_dSN_E/WT03Pd6mBbI/AAAAAAAAD0M/0sULbVAI1uMXT8oC96CpcMXoSdsu7GObQCLcB/s1600/26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VKLgh_dSN_E/WT03Pd6mBbI/AAAAAAAAD0M/0sULbVAI1uMXT8oC96CpcMXoSdsu7GObQCLcB/s320/26.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And another refreshments trip around the ground for me. This time it was to a lovely little tea shop underneath the new Warner Stand.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VzY0MhIi6lo/WT03hRSpPLI/AAAAAAAAD0Q/J5i6zzC8QSEmVCm_IjOHdJvfrMPsPOrYwCLcB/s1600/30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VzY0MhIi6lo/WT03hRSpPLI/AAAAAAAAD0Q/J5i6zzC8QSEmVCm_IjOHdJvfrMPsPOrYwCLcB/s320/30.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>To the final game ! Army take the field with the Navy batting and the hero of the first game quickly departs cheaply.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b3S0KXayaYQ/WT030qq54pI/AAAAAAAAD0U/J9FGQHKamukcEMjio8STf1Y4WzUu3CIJQCLcB/s1600/33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b3S0KXayaYQ/WT030qq54pI/AAAAAAAAD0U/J9FGQHKamukcEMjio8STf1Y4WzUu3CIJQCLcB/s320/33.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Some excellent skill from the Navy batsmen nudged them up to a defendable 125. It was going to be a tight second half ...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lF5gvhh6efQ/WT04Qk9zzjI/AAAAAAAAD0Y/cQkP-6yu0U8Hh_IAZSzRAcJ1nKmMP3NawCLcB/s1600/36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lF5gvhh6efQ/WT04Qk9zzjI/AAAAAAAAD0Y/cQkP-6yu0U8Hh_IAZSzRAcJ1nKmMP3NawCLcB/s320/36.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And on to the final battle ...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jQhyW526DcM/WT04Z4rb9AI/AAAAAAAAD0c/brOjQI7jpoc_uS8YbVAmzClasZf3NSoPwCLcB/s1600/39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jQhyW526DcM/WT04Z4rb9AI/AAAAAAAAD0c/brOjQI7jpoc_uS8YbVAmzClasZf3NSoPwCLcB/s320/39.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The star of the last game tried to get the score moving quickly with some solid hits ... but in the end the hit above was just not quite solid enough. Caught on the boundary for 36.<br /><br />This game went right down to the final over too. We thought the Navy had it with their tight bowling and far better fielding than last year.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rR5sdTxHQ4c/WT04zkuCNmI/AAAAAAAAD0g/bOt6s1k475wRGWmhIfsp7poRYftRA3vcACLcB/s1600/41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rR5sdTxHQ4c/WT04zkuCNmI/AAAAAAAAD0g/bOt6s1k475wRGWmhIfsp7poRYftRA3vcACLcB/s320/41.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>However, with a 6 hit off the penultimate ball, the Army came away with the title this year after a thrilling victory.<br /><br />Another good year for the IST20 tournament. 2 very close, exciting games. Exciting hitting with some spectators looking for helmets. Decent atmosphere from a crowd whittled down somewhat by the threat of rain which mostly stayed away. We had an element of the crowd chanting "Another Dot Ball" as the Navy bowlers were keeping things tight. It was glorious.<br /><br />So the Army took the spoilers on the day, with a team effort in the field capped off by the batsmen thumping the ball to all parts.<br /><br />But it's not all about the cricket on these day. I didn't actually buy anything in Westfield after the game but I was very tempted ....<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0DSEMM_kt_U/WT07nDf3zQI/AAAAAAAAD0s/Ri72iJdpkn4fi5ZXGRrJSMgHGJvbW4xTwCLcB/s1600/43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1072" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0DSEMM_kt_U/WT07nDf3zQI/AAAAAAAAD0s/Ri72iJdpkn4fi5ZXGRrJSMgHGJvbW4xTwCLcB/s320/43.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>Oh yes. Maybe when it's cheaper but ... oh yes. And ....<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4oZ9608UkIY/WT07tMhe0II/AAAAAAAAD0w/YVQiFJeT9VQXPOS9pG6VPMABYRn_G8p1wCLcB/s1600/44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1072" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4oZ9608UkIY/WT07tMhe0II/AAAAAAAAD0w/YVQiFJeT9VQXPOS9pG6VPMABYRn_G8p1wCLcB/s320/44.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>They have a Death Star ...Sleepypetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11143274290029186546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17680747.post-78229036468630578282017-06-03T22:01:00.000+01:002017-06-03T22:01:12.549+01:00Comic Con Adventures !Was this really last week ? Feels like the week has flown by !<br /><br />But I'll write about this week some other time. First .... Pika-Friend wants to greet you ! <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AA4joLE8-TY/WTMeHrQ9wZI/AAAAAAAADxw/HYu-Od1preU_o1k7MJNNeUsDK6CRAqC6wCLcB/s1600/IMG_0257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AA4joLE8-TY/WTMeHrQ9wZI/AAAAAAAADxw/HYu-Od1preU_o1k7MJNNeUsDK6CRAqC6wCLcB/s400/IMG_0257.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>This character was bouncing happily on the way in. I think they were anticipating a fun time.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mmBD4tPbOn4/WTMeegyhQEI/AAAAAAAADx0/m8656wWhr-oMuS08jVMIw6ufM-hsrQeVACLcB/s1600/IMG_0253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mmBD4tPbOn4/WTMeegyhQEI/AAAAAAAADx0/m8656wWhr-oMuS08jVMIw6ufM-hsrQeVACLcB/s320/IMG_0253.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Comic Con in London is held there, in the Excel arena. A good place, although the climate conditions (and the sheer number of people) makes for a tough day due to heat. Wonder what it's like with a less popular show ? The Comic Cons have got pretty big now. Lots of things on offer :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LnPb-c8PPPk/WTMe4PgCSiI/AAAAAAAADx4/-hkTZ1Lg4qotvaXCETxvCVO_gwpAJEZCgCLcB/s1600/18838934_10158926359860722_8163953115544804610_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LnPb-c8PPPk/WTMe4PgCSiI/AAAAAAAADx4/-hkTZ1Lg4qotvaXCETxvCVO_gwpAJEZCgCLcB/s320/18838934_10158926359860722_8163953115544804610_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>The cute t-shirts as always, we didn't buy anything from <a href="http://genkigear.co.uk/">Genki Gear</a> this time around but they did have some good stuff on show. (I'd just bought the best already !)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZSD-1g8tfbE/WTMfM0VJWJI/AAAAAAAADx8/pndBh9hRj0sf_BrNlcHIfH8wnbRSinUoQCLcB/s1600/18813203_10158926357495722_5660871251051643657_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZSD-1g8tfbE/WTMfM0VJWJI/AAAAAAAADx8/pndBh9hRj0sf_BrNlcHIfH8wnbRSinUoQCLcB/s320/18813203_10158926357495722_5660871251051643657_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>We had plushies inspired by the Stardew Valley game. I've thought about picking this one up but I'm not convinced I'll stick with it to be honest. I have enjoyed watching the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGe_S5n7MjT36EUYItEv7Wi3Wkz4pZU7o">Aavak</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvxxKywS2AHF_86mno3mhnQfit08vvmWA">Metaselene</a> series of this though.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3oUaVTtFimA/WTMfxMNwYFI/AAAAAAAADyE/vHpedtCUJNIo9N5hCUl5mOg8LHi01tx5gCLcB/s1600/18740700_10158926360310722_8526404106477720682_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3oUaVTtFimA/WTMfxMNwYFI/AAAAAAAADyE/vHpedtCUJNIo9N5hCUl5mOg8LHi01tx5gCLcB/s320/18740700_10158926360310722_8526404106477720682_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Pretty trinkets ....<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u4qJsWGoU4s/WTMf4W92gEI/AAAAAAAADyI/6Z2oblxDIo0-fAEcdbZUNiowJRpf_05QACLcB/s1600/IMG_0266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u4qJsWGoU4s/WTMf4W92gEI/AAAAAAAADyI/6Z2oblxDIo0-fAEcdbZUNiowJRpf_05QACLcB/s320/IMG_0266.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>More pretty trinkets ....<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-93IfTr_aJDQ/WTMgBb_1VaI/AAAAAAAADyM/-8wH6XAHuqM-VZGFJL1UDkmTNDq3nCJ9ACLcB/s1600/18835792_10158926359185722_7824841811652698985_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-93IfTr_aJDQ/WTMgBb_1VaI/AAAAAAAADyM/-8wH6XAHuqM-VZGFJL1UDkmTNDq3nCJ9ACLcB/s320/18835792_10158926359185722_7824841811652698985_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Wonderfully weird art ...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3GPhwveFq-0/WTMgII9k_1I/AAAAAAAADyQ/uF8JSJBKNFIzy2OyoiQ313VB0XFWAhUAQCLcB/s1600/18835901_10158926359100722_2105069166847836579_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3GPhwveFq-0/WTMgII9k_1I/AAAAAAAADyQ/uF8JSJBKNFIzy2OyoiQ313VB0XFWAhUAQCLcB/s320/18835901_10158926359100722_2105069166847836579_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Gorgeous cosplay ...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pX01IbUpOMY/WTMgM4kA4sI/AAAAAAAADyU/7pFt8fAG8S8T-AK8LZnukXLpE7qYDsu9wCLcB/s1600/18921834_10158926359125722_7287715878459271261_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pX01IbUpOMY/WTMgM4kA4sI/AAAAAAAADyU/7pFt8fAG8S8T-AK8LZnukXLpE7qYDsu9wCLcB/s320/18921834_10158926359125722_7287715878459271261_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Darth Vader !!! The celebrities seemed more accessible this time around and not hidden away behind screens. Still loadsamoney for autographics though.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ETNGjs0uPV4/WTMggOtUcQI/AAAAAAAADyY/FCRaQN-WPxQujgG6v1U2qXVObxZARNAVQCLcB/s1600/18765713_10158926360555722_2345609111573799344_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="464" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ETNGjs0uPV4/WTMggOtUcQI/AAAAAAAADyY/FCRaQN-WPxQujgG6v1U2qXVObxZARNAVQCLcB/s320/18765713_10158926360555722_2345609111573799344_n.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>There was also his mate BB-8 ...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y1KpuRlUgiU/WTMgoOuT1tI/AAAAAAAADyc/HIJMpCwNjXMy7Ln0rtqZ7gkqdeR6WMIQgCLcB/s1600/IMG_0265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y1KpuRlUgiU/WTMgoOuT1tI/AAAAAAAADyc/HIJMpCwNjXMy7Ln0rtqZ7gkqdeR6WMIQgCLcB/s320/IMG_0265.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>In several forms ... Oh wait ! Darth wasn't BB-8's mate ...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aHf03H1kEX8/WTMgwRggZlI/AAAAAAAADyg/fz3g-gVN6s8-M3fkWsexi2vg336hSmvGwCLcB/s1600/IMG_0264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aHf03H1kEX8/WTMgwRggZlI/AAAAAAAADyg/fz3g-gVN6s8-M3fkWsexi2vg336hSmvGwCLcB/s320/IMG_0264.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Perhaps this fella :-).<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CD4Q_lw3wUw/WTMhBgOnCfI/AAAAAAAADyk/4YY8a-Q0U34b1NV0k0nlqTya_73rx0IawCLcB/s1600/IMG_0270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CD4Q_lw3wUw/WTMhBgOnCfI/AAAAAAAADyk/4YY8a-Q0U34b1NV0k0nlqTya_73rx0IawCLcB/s320/IMG_0270.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>There was some truly wonderful cosplay on show there, including this lady and her dress arranging minion.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YNA8kH-LK00/WTMhN_qJo_I/AAAAAAAADyo/DSTG0BBP2-cm7IQBFeLvOphT0Jx1WmEVACLcB/s1600/IMG_0262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YNA8kH-LK00/WTMhN_qJo_I/AAAAAAAADyo/DSTG0BBP2-cm7IQBFeLvOphT0Jx1WmEVACLcB/s320/IMG_0262.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Not that Minion.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vErHPyWkhRk/WTMhWav5PXI/AAAAAAAADys/r-DgejaB19M2TDZjABoA0G5wvRRBcrohwCLcB/s1600/IMG_0268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vErHPyWkhRk/WTMhWav5PXI/AAAAAAAADys/r-DgejaB19M2TDZjABoA0G5wvRRBcrohwCLcB/s320/IMG_0268.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>I'd love to know where this character came from.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z8r-QIxYZhw/WTMhq-huL_I/AAAAAAAADy0/hAqDEx_47D8RG9D19b2N4NLDx0uB58iCwCLcB/s1600/IMG_0272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z8r-QIxYZhw/WTMhq-huL_I/AAAAAAAADy0/hAqDEx_47D8RG9D19b2N4NLDx0uB58iCwCLcB/s200/IMG_0272.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DXzVmqF2y-M/WTMhz1IfXSI/AAAAAAAADy4/FJTNLnN-dzQuTlNqSmC2wFddOy1a_bYvQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DXzVmqF2y-M/WTMhz1IfXSI/AAAAAAAADy4/FJTNLnN-dzQuTlNqSmC2wFddOy1a_bYvQCLcB/s200/IMG_0273.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>I loved the dragonboat and its passenger.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QRpi2k19JNk/WTMhi_S1MAI/AAAAAAAADyw/Kkrguglh6sARCstCBwQtInTzKqXeIy_wwCLcB/s1600/IMG_0267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QRpi2k19JNk/WTMhi_S1MAI/AAAAAAAADyw/Kkrguglh6sARCstCBwQtInTzKqXeIy_wwCLcB/s320/IMG_0267.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>This alien costume was a piece of wonder ...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QdL4wrZHyO4/WTMiu4R46uI/AAAAAAAADy8/suE5blN0ELYyFi5ak1dmvJbzV0CRFHB4wCLcB/s1600/IMG_0271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QdL4wrZHyO4/WTMiu4R46uI/AAAAAAAADy8/suE5blN0ELYyFi5ak1dmvJbzV0CRFHB4wCLcB/s320/IMG_0271.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>But we thought we should escape before the Photo Police arrested me for the crime of taking blurry photos ... However ! We did escape with loot :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_ee9BICvKVI/WTMi8XDVHmI/AAAAAAAADzA/aqtnZb1jHc4EMugrUXxzq8BavBsE13tcACLcB/s1600/18839118_10158926477565722_5659716351529155668_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_ee9BICvKVI/WTMi8XDVHmI/AAAAAAAADzA/aqtnZb1jHc4EMugrUXxzq8BavBsE13tcACLcB/s320/18839118_10158926477565722_5659716351529155668_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>The last one ! Oh and .... check this out :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XPIY2xQSDvA/WTMjCEskThI/AAAAAAAADzE/tiHhe_OEafkYa64uKo0ihE7JfCzKqRFvwCLcB/s1600/18946980_10207136765177626_1791533105_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XPIY2xQSDvA/WTMjCEskThI/AAAAAAAADzE/tiHhe_OEafkYa64uKo0ihE7JfCzKqRFvwCLcB/s320/18946980_10207136765177626_1791533105_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>No. Not the ancient sofa that could do with recovering and a good clean. The Nanoblock BB-8 !<br /><br />I also took away a Nanoblock Cookie Monster, Mass Effect posters plus a couple of Star Wars themed t-shirts.<br /><br />We had a great day out ! Loved it. I was knocked out for a day or so due to (being old and maybe leftovers of the bugs) and all the energy expended but ... LOVED IT !<br /><br />Sleepypetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11143274290029186546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17680747.post-42137768718561743192017-05-30T21:25:00.000+01:002017-05-30T21:25:35.453+01:00May time hibernationGosh - 8 days since last post.<br /><br />I've been pretty tired again lately. I suspect the bugs that I had over a fortnight ago now are having a more long term effect on my overall energy levels.<br /><br />I was able to rouse the old bones for Comic Con on Sunday (worth it !) but apart from that, the exhaustion hits quite quickly. I can do what I need to do (like the shopping today !) but I'm definitely looking forward to being able to crash out for the rest of the week. I'm off work this week and hopefully that'll allow me to get some healing in for my outsides and to replenish those energy reserves.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GhRD88hoCYA/WS3MYIyHwiI/AAAAAAAADxA/TAUI8ahHzGwjoR1BVBMQPxfxtqH-Zqw2QCLcB/s1600/534645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="649" data-original-width="540" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GhRD88hoCYA/WS3MYIyHwiI/AAAAAAAADxA/TAUI8ahHzGwjoR1BVBMQPxfxtqH-Zqw2QCLcB/s400/534645.jpg" width="332" /></a></div>I have the photos from Comic Con but that enervation is getting in the way of me pulling the photos off the camera so I can organise them for Facebook etc. Soon :-).<br /><br />Comic Con always brings out the special, the odd, the beautiful, the ... revealing, the downright wonderful and always outfits that the wearers and makers can be pretty proud of. I haven't done one yet but I think I have an idea for something that could work and be suitably understated. Here we are :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nhM_pv0oAgU/WS3NxG9ebkI/AAAAAAAADxM/EX3QR1Vr1igVbbvo9ZauhGvfuVUrbYmQwCLcB/s1600/Alliance_Dress_Blues.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="532" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nhM_pv0oAgU/WS3NxG9ebkI/AAAAAAAADxM/EX3QR1Vr1igVbbvo9ZauhGvfuVUrbYmQwCLcB/s320/Alliance_Dress_Blues.png" width="314" /></a></div>That's the Alliance Dress Blues from the Mass Effect game, although I think I actually prefer the Cerberus outfit.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6QgFMqIz8Xk/WS3OI0YXgFI/AAAAAAAADxQ/STEDKUyZajE9VDVruPO8nyEALVSWJMryACLcB/s1600/Commander-Sheprad-Mass-Effect-2-Part-3-Mandala-c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="978" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6QgFMqIz8Xk/WS3OI0YXgFI/AAAAAAAADxQ/STEDKUyZajE9VDVruPO8nyEALVSWJMryACLcB/s320/Commander-Sheprad-Mass-Effect-2-Part-3-Mandala-c.jpg" width="163" /></a></div>Looks good. They did a good job with the outfits in the game.<br /><br />Yep. Comic Con was pretty good this year. It feels like it is getting bigger each year, although that's me remembering back to a few years ago when I went to London MCM for the first time. It's definitely bigger than the version at Birmingham NEC. It seemed like there were more artist stands this time around. I really must ask one of them to do a Dwagon Waving Hi for me at some point.<br /><br />It's a long, tough day but the show and most definitely the company makes it very much worth it. And if you're going to one of these events yourself, look into the whole day and not just the convention. You really need to look after yourself to get through a day like this so you can Really Enjoy It, which means making sure you're topped up on things like water (the location is very hot and humid inside - very unhealthy enervating conditions) and having breaks when you need them. Take a few minutes to chill out having something to eat and drink. It's worth it because that fuels you through the day.<br /><br />The Lords run is a longer day (starts earlier) but works well with this too. With 3 games, there are short breaks at half time where the teams change sides (loo break for spectators !) and longer breaks between the games where you can scoot around the stadium looking for foods, drinks and scouting the usually excellent Lords shop. I think I've well and truly mined out that shop though but I'm sure I'll find something good this year.<br /><br />Like at Comic Con !<br /><br />The lovely Cupid's Gift came away with an excellent selection of goodies (and a smuggled plushie !) and I acquired 2 Star Wars themed t-shirts which will get shown off at work on the Fridays soon, plus 2 Nanoblock kits (BB-8 and Cookie Monster - pictures to come when they're built) and I also got a book of Mass Effect posters.<br /><br />Good loot.<br /><br />That other bit of planning involves what you do around the show too. So for Comic Con and the Lords run, there is a Westfield trip after. It's a massive shopping place ... which also has munchie areas. Good food is fantastic for fuelling you through a day. And it's tasty too. I'll have a good scout around before leaving London on the 8th. The alternative is to head off down the motorway until you find somewhere acceptable and motorway service stations are all about fuel food, not tasty food.<br /><br />I'll be doing the cricket watching as well this holiday - extraordinary game yesterday where England almost got demolished in record time. When that happened in my playing days, it would often result in what we called a Beer Leg, where the teams would hang around for a friendly/practice where we'd have bowlers batting and batsmen bowling. Bit of fun to get us more cricket in during the day.<br /><br />I was about to say "Where I could have more fun being a nutter in the field too" but this was when I still had fear of the ball, before I figured out that being fearless hurts less in cricket than when the fear hesitation leads to fumbles and ouches.<br /><br />Comic Con pictures soon. I need to get them off the camera.<br /><br />Perhaps games soon too, I have a selection on my current play list :<br />Stellaris - yep. I'm on this one again. After starting a game with a bunch of Space Raptors who were the Devouring Swarm, I'm in one with Space Snakes who will turn into a Devouring Swarm (everyone hates you because they think you're out to eat them - which is true) later. The Raptors had too many enemies to survive that game but the Snakes have been able to slice up races peacemeal. To ermm ... make meals out of them.<br /><br />Yep. Stellaris still gets my attention.<br /><br />I've opened Rebel Galaxy again, which has confused me because I'm having to recalibrate my play away from "I can take on anyone !" to running at the first sign of trouble. It's a good space game, more about space battle barges than the fighter type craft in Elite.<br /><br />Darkest Dungeon might get some more time ...<br /><br />Then there's Motorsport Manager, where my campaign has been on hiatus because it got boring. My team is a long way ahead of the competition. Incidentally, this is why Formula 1 has been better this year, as Ferrari have caught up with Mercedes and you genuinely don't know which of them will win the races.<br /><br />And I really should go back to Mass Effect Andromeda and make a push to finish that. It has good outfits too :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iWOAT9KMC6E/WS3UmJkHgAI/AAAAAAAADxg/uFSMjPM0ggM-BgmOhecdyKsfDeUjQekMQCLcB/s1600/hqdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iWOAT9KMC6E/WS3UmJkHgAI/AAAAAAAADxg/uFSMjPM0ggM-BgmOhecdyKsfDeUjQekMQCLcB/s320/hqdefault.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>You can probably tell that if I were to find myself in a science fictional universe, it would almost certainly be Mass Effect as the preferred one. There is good variation in races, huge potential to explore and they just created a galaxy full of wonder.<br /><br />Back there soon !Sleepypetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11143274290029186546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17680747.post-7576896357936766372017-05-22T21:02:00.000+01:002017-05-22T21:03:09.928+01:00Conserving StrengthGosh !<br /><br />I'm proper exhausted at the moment. My brain is still good for barking off in random directions doing all sorts of things, usually several at once. But the body is needing new batteries.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zcxMxHkGVeU/U01_ha005YI/AAAAAAAABBo/E759EPBLEY06sL7-jc6g6iFNvhfmSeppwCPcB/s1600/1982024_10152176550578778_4529444912088853283_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zcxMxHkGVeU/U01_ha005YI/AAAAAAAABBo/E759EPBLEY06sL7-jc6g6iFNvhfmSeppwCPcB/s400/1982024_10152176550578778_4529444912088853283_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I think it's a combination of things. The first and big one is the bugs that I'm still fighting off. It was a classic 4 days of gunky nose bug plus sneezes. On the Saturday, it took all I had to put the washing in the machine.<br /><br />I was able to do the work thing all last week but that's mostly sitting at the desk getting stuff done. That takes mental energy but not necessarily physical energy. I'll be ok with a break, which will happen next week and I should be good to get through this week, the weekend and the Lords trip on the 8th. Oh the other thing is potential Chronic Fatigue Syndrome which is becoming more widespread. I definitely have a kind of feeling where I should have energy but that energy is locked up in an iron cage and I can't release it.<br /><br />It be Comic Con next weekend. It's been great for the past few years that I've gone to them. Lots of shopping yes ... but also lots of amazing stuff to see, particularly the cosplay mob. Maybe this year there will be stream meet ups too. I'll keep my eyes open, although I don't think we'll dive into the video people's stand. Perhaps though .... a little learning from last year to meet a celebrity actor or two. That's awkward though. The way they organise it involves a long queue to buy a ticket to get into them and then more queue to actually get the photo with them. And this needs to be done an hour or so in advance.<br /><br />Good to see that Yogscast is back in the good graces there. There was a falling out last year which seemed a bit silly. I watch barely any of their stuff now (I'm not their target audience any more, they've shifted to catch young adult/adolescent) but we need content creators like that to get on and succeed, because that opens doors for other content creators.<br /><br />It'll be great to go back this year. I must collect pictures for posting.<br /><br />Had a great day yesterday too. Pub lunch with great company :-).<br /><br />Friday - Alien Covenant. I actually quite enjoyed this movie, which probably showed in me not finishing the popcorn bucket (it was a rather large bucket). It's a pretty decent scifi movie but like Prometheus, it has no business being in the Alien franchise. In that, it's a cheap cash in on the Alien universe, a classic example of how you can destroy a story by telling too much of it.<br /><br />Without dropping into spoiler space, it adds detail that completely and utterly clashes with events in other movies. I just can't see how they would resolve those conflicts.<br /><br />That said, I'll probably pick it up when it goes ultra cheap on the bluray. Not a 2 for £25 movie like Passengers and Fantastic Beasts or a £10 movie like ST Beyond and XMen Apocalypse. (Guess which 4 blurays escaped with me last week !) Maybe a 5 for £30 movie.<br /><br />I've also picked up Alastair Reynolds Revenger which has a promising start (and is reminding me about writing narrative!) plus Jack Campbell's first prequel to his Lost Fleet series.<br /><br />I'll enjoy reading those.<br /><br />When I have more energy !<br /><br />Oh wait .... reading doesn't actually need much energy.<br /><br />Read more !<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ql-7XMZrtfQ/U02AjCEZ5kI/AAAAAAAABB4/jALgWVzdSlMUAaLzHPlKYsj1iZoazVUJQCPcB/s1600/10256171_10152170684083778_1150127239453443143_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="351" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ql-7XMZrtfQ/U02AjCEZ5kI/AAAAAAAABB4/jALgWVzdSlMUAaLzHPlKYsj1iZoazVUJQCPcB/s400/10256171_10152170684083778_1150127239453443143_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Reading is good for you. As is orange juice apparently, which is on my list of "drink this and die" (It stops me breathing).<br /><br />I promise that reading will not kill you ! Erm. Going now before my exhausted rambles get too random :-).Sleepypetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11143274290029186546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17680747.post-9332663597726157372017-05-15T22:23:00.000+01:002017-05-15T22:23:13.277+01:00A few more writey ideasFirst up :<br /><br />I'm improving after the ManFluPlague ! As ever, when I write about something that's getting me down or making me anxious, expressing the feelings seems to either trigger some kind of weird karma or helps me turn around the not so good feelings.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kXsMhT3fn4U/WRoMgpguvZI/AAAAAAAADwY/032AkeLl7IESO3sAkyGP8Mf8kf8OU4z3QCLcB/s1600/snoopy_typewriter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kXsMhT3fn4U/WRoMgpguvZI/AAAAAAAADwY/032AkeLl7IESO3sAkyGP8Mf8kf8OU4z3QCLcB/s400/snoopy_typewriter.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />So .... I got through today at work without too much trouble from the ManFluPlague. The main symptoms let up a fair bit, my nose behaved and I don't actually move around that much at work so the energy problem wasn't a handicap.<br /><br />And my friend who had gone off the grid is back ! Hurrah ! I had a feeling I knew what she was up to, although I thought that was actually happening next month. Must listen better.<br /><br />That's me feeling better (not fixed yet) and the anxiety about the friend dispelled. How about the writey ideas ....<br /><br />A lot of the writey ideas at the moment are for the book and they centre on two themes. Setting up the colony, expanding the colony and ... how to murder a planet full of people. (The murder thing is essential for part of the plot)<br /><br />I think I have the idea for the murdering thing. A Big Falling Rock usually does the trick but .... it's the build up to that incident and the how to make that work which is the trick. If a culture has the technology to tow Big Space Rocks around a solar system, then just a standard Big Falling Rock isn't going to cut it. The Naval ships in orbit would see it coming a long way off and just tow the Big Falling Rock to somewhere safe.<br /><br />Unless it's actually a small moon that's being dropped on a planet - I saw that written into David Weber's Armageddon Inheritance. Gave me a Holy Carp moment when I was reading that. Oh and it was also in Star Wars - Vector Prime, which is a book that is now in the Star Wars Expanded Universe which has been cut from the canon. It had the end of Chewbacca, howling his rage at the moon as it dropped on him, having been left behind by Han. That set up themes that ran on for a few books.<br /><br />The original set up of a Destroyer and an Auxillary ship stands, although I won't land the Auxillary ship any more. The vision in my mind is of fleets supported by Auxillaries that have to deploy for long periods away from an industial base to support them. So the Auxillary ships basically eat asteroids, smelt them into minerals and metals and then 3d print spare parts and new bits. It makes sense to keep your factory ship in orbit so it can eat asteroids that are towed to it. It doesn't make sense to land the ship and then drop the asteroids down on it.<br /><br />So the Auxillary ship creates prefab bits for the colony, which are then landed on the planet. It would also be on station to provide emergency response from orbit while the Destroyer has fun rolling around the system. The explanation for them paying off is that the ships have a limited number of hyperspace jumps they can before the hull crumbles and our two ships are very close to that limit. (A new Battlestar Galactica idea !)<br /><br />How to do scouting ?<br /><br />Bike gangs !!! This colony is about the disadvantaged, the unwanted escaping a society that's basically out to get them. There's not much love for cyclists out there, except by the cyclists themselves. Car drivers don't want them on the roads, pedestrians definitely don't want them on pavements and the cyclists don't stick to the cycle paths. But .... what if there are no cycle paths ? What if there is open country to roam in ?<br /><br />I'd see a cycle gang or two recruited to basically tour around the countryside around the colony, mapping it, taking pictures of everything, taking samples to either analyse on the spot or send back for further analysis. It's a new planet to these people, the best way to explore is to be out there seeing what there is. And cycles give a chance to cover decent ground while still being able to see Stuff.<br /><br />The bikes would be built in the colony too - things like solar charged hybrid motor assist bikes, which is good cos these people will be sleeping in the open. Light weight is important for letting them carry the survival gear. Not too much though because :<br /><br />Drones are getting more popular now aren't they ?<br /><br />We'll take that, we'll use it. First, set up a low orbit space infrastructure with an equivalent of GPS satellites. GPS is pretty nigh on essential to our daily lives now. It doesn't make sense not to have it in our colony. Our bikers (and everyone else) could be located via their GPS which would allow help and supplies to get to them quickly.<br /><br />So our biker scout gangs would be resupplied in the evenings by Drone carrier bots, which would also allow the samples to be returned.<br /><br />The 3d printing would also extend into elements like medical science. Bit like Star Trek has its replicators which magically appear Stuff out of thin air. I don't think our replicators can be quite that advanced though. 3d printing inorganic stuff (metals, plastics) seems fairly feasible but I'm not so sure about doing that with organic stuff. Better to grow it.<br /><br />This society has most medical stuff licked though like being able to produce replacement parts that Just Work without any of the rejection or matching problems that we have at the moment. One element I'll draw in is more ethical and it's to do with reproduction and sexual orientation. I touched on this in the April 1st post ....<br /><br />In an advanced medical society, it makes no sense that it hasn't stretched into methods such as cloning. Or even tailored babies. I'm not going to go as far as tailored babies though, at least ... not to the point where the parents choose sex and looks of the kid. That cuts out diversity and ... a new colony needs genetic diversity to survive.<br /><br />The idea is that any two people who want to have a child can. Best to do it with a womb (if the mom agrees !) but the medical science also allows for artificial conception and incubation of Little One. Not just for LGBT+, also for the couples who can't conceive in the natural way and for ladies who can't carry to term. This society would not require couples to go through the anguish of not being able to have a child if they want one.<br /><br />The need for genetic diversity is far more important than an outdated of idea about what type of sexuality is right or wrong, especially in a Space Colony when there aren't that many people to work with. The rule would be that everyone has to provide their genetics to at least 2 children. I.e. 2 people's genes needed per child.<br /><br />The secret though is to make all this sound very natural. Like it's the done thing. Like doing anything different (i.e. how we live today) would be odd. To expose people to a different way of thinking.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AK4GWgzulvI/WRoYgxgMWmI/AAAAAAAADwo/-7-TX29HnJUKK-yHc3fsi2lVxLmnbskvQCLcB/s1600/10015010_10152043473543581_986610781_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AK4GWgzulvI/WRoYgxgMWmI/AAAAAAAADwo/-7-TX29HnJUKK-yHc3fsi2lVxLmnbskvQCLcB/s320/10015010_10152043473543581_986610781_n.jpg" width="317" /></a></div>To make people think more. To have them question their ingrown beliefs, their prejudiced ingrained through their history. If you can make someone think, to challenge their preconceptions.<br /><br />If you can do that, you're winning.<br /><br />I haven't talked about entertainment yet .... I talk a fair bit about the Youtube watching and the Twitch stream watching. I think we'd continue that. Perhaps a disabled streamer coming with us who has problems in the higher gravities which the medical science can't fix. She'd stay up in orbit, enjoying low gravity and would broadcast from there. It would also be a substitute for colony news.<br /><br />Entertainment and a way of getting the important info across.<br /><br />And I think I just invented Reality TV. IN SPACE !!!<br /><br />Pardon me while I run and hide from my conscience.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ptbqWQ4UI2A/WRoayp2Ka1I/AAAAAAAADws/i56JaBQVY48SpbRBpL9Yq2xcWV6slNPEgCLcB/s1600/10001354_536307953149897_1454637126_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ptbqWQ4UI2A/WRoayp2Ka1I/AAAAAAAADws/i56JaBQVY48SpbRBpL9Yq2xcWV6slNPEgCLcB/s320/10001354_536307953149897_1454637126_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Only kidding. I'm curious to hear what people think though, even if I'm still not back to the level of mental focus that would allow me to write something coherent.<br /><br />Nite !Sleepypetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11143274290029186546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17680747.post-29087439696699811512017-05-14T21:49:00.000+01:002017-05-14T21:49:11.511+01:00Beware Patient ZeroSo I picked up a ManFluPlague again ...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dKDNt8JZRW0/VZrqAF1zMwI/AAAAAAAACLM/2O05dsccuEIkf4HI6uw-wImQ3Tp5uMFYwCPcB/s1600/article-2267507-172547E0000005DC-144_306x412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dKDNt8JZRW0/VZrqAF1zMwI/AAAAAAAACLM/2O05dsccuEIkf4HI6uw-wImQ3Tp5uMFYwCPcB/s400/article-2267507-172547E0000005DC-144_306x412.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>It's not too bad. Certainly not something that'll keep me away from work tomorrow.<br /><br />I'm actually far more worried about a friend at the moment. They've been out of contact for a little while now. Hope they're ok. If you're that friend and you're reading this, drop us a text or a FB message (my phone has been reluctant to receive texts ...), let us know you're ok.<br /><br />As for me .... ManFluPlague started to make itself felt on Wednesday and I kept my bugs home on the Thursday with a first spell of working at home for a while. I got away with it on Friday before going splat when I got home. Saturday had the Radderss 12 hour charity stream going and now back to regular streaming today. I'll be back at work tomorrow.<br /><br />I have my work laptop again now .... although it's actually stationed at work again due to a daft desk sharing policy we're starting next week. Yep. Even dafter than cramming a team that needs maybe 20% more desks than we have allocated to us into the space we have. Tomorrow morning could be mayhem.<br /><br />We'll see what happens tomorrow.<br /><br />Yep. That ManFluPlague isn't too bad. I don't tend to get sick too often, at least I don't usually notice it when sniffles are actually sniffles and not the ever present allergies. This time, it's a bunged up nose, stuff in my lungs, a distant lack of energy and focus that's going missing.<br /><br />The energy debt is what leads to the lack of focus though. I did manage to put the washing in the machine yesterday but that took pretty much all I had. It took a while before I could summon up the energy to take it out of the machine. (I did and it'll be good for work tomorrow).<br /><br />It did mean that while I did dive into the games, I found myself making the daft errors that tend to be costly in the games I'm playing at the moment :<br /><br />Darkest Dungeon - maybe I'll see this one through into a campaign playthrough again ? Maybe :-).<br />XCom 2 - this can be brutally unforgiving. Run a soldier too far ahead of support and they'll activate a group of enemies with murder on their minds. I'm making excellent progress on the current play through. I have a group of soldiers with the skills and gear to complete the final mission now but I'm farming as many Steam Achievements as I can get.<br /><br />And I didn't even think of going back into Elite or Mass Effect Andromeda. Elite wants focus and shooter games like the Mass Effect series wind me up to a level that demands energy that I don't have at the moment.<br /><br />I think I'm coming out of the bugs at the moment though.<br /><br />It was good on Thursday to listen/halfwatch into a stream by Kim, who I used to talk about a fair bit here. I'd lost touch because the videos had gone away from what I'd been interested in. She's best with indie style games with a story, where she can ramble on around the story and genuinely include the viewer in what she's playing and talking about. And that came through very strongly on stream too.<br /><br />I'd originally tuned in to have acceptable background noise (I'm not inflicting daytime TV on me) on while doing the working at home thing. I find silence to be intensely distracting and need something in the background. I'm glad I tuned into Kim again and it's got me talking to some of the great people in her Discord chat server too.<br /><br />So yeah - ManFluPlague and the continuing effects of the damage to my outsides (it is gradually repairing still ... gradually) but hanging on in there.<br /><br />Good people to chat to;<br />Fun people to watch live;<br />Warm feelings from having people say "Get well soon";<br />(in person behind a breath mask and online!)<br />A lot of worry about a missing friend;<br />(she'll just be busy - I hope!)<br />A steady supply of tissues (for the nose);<br /><br />And hopefully not too much longer until the bugs are gone.<br /><br />Be well everyone ! Which probably means not being near me until I'm no longer contagious.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B6u81g-Vy3s/UwuluM6ZetI/AAAAAAAAA8A/wNBcGMpBI0ArLHyIYM-GK1N7LGHcALHagCPcB/s1600/1559608_769569216401546_2048181769_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B6u81g-Vy3s/UwuluM6ZetI/AAAAAAAAA8A/wNBcGMpBI0ArLHyIYM-GK1N7LGHcALHagCPcB/s400/1559608_769569216401546_2048181769_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Can't promise anything about those smiles though :-D.Sleepypetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11143274290029186546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17680747.post-68970895358274449012017-05-09T00:02:00.000+01:002017-05-09T00:02:11.217+01:00A novel meeting in a pub, far, far awayI mentioned book writing a while ago didn't I ? The ideas have been bubbling away still. I thought I should probably let some of them out of my head. Because you know, there isn't that much room in my head and sometimes it rattles.<br /><br />A "vomit draft" excerpt starts after :<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O817fjXepuM/WRDZNA998MI/AAAAAAAADwI/HKaifqbvHUY4dLMmZs7UuDA3pWzhvDB_wCLcB/s1600/funny-moving-cats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O817fjXepuM/WRDZNA998MI/AAAAAAAADwI/HKaifqbvHUY4dLMmZs7UuDA3pWzhvDB_wCLcB/s400/funny-moving-cats.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>"So, what are you having Charles ?"<br />"Thanks Matt. After that meeting, something really strong but .... just a soda please."<br />"Ahh. Yes. Ok !" said a slightly confused, rather worried looking Matt on his way over to the bar.<br />The two suited men made a curious counterpoint to the varied denizens of the Lonely Spaceman, a joint most people would describe as a den of despair, a pit of piracy, a lounge of larceny or a place where they sell drinks you can't get anywhere else on the planet. The spacers' bar was actually a central point for the various traders ... and smugglers ... filtering through the planet of Larson's Point. You could obtain almost anything in the Lonely Spaceman, an always temporary cure for loneliness in whichever form you chose, legal items and the occasional illegal item. But don't tell anyone about the latter.<br /><br />Whatever happens in the Lonely Spaceman, stays in the Lonely Spaceman. Or in the various docks around the port. The spaceport was typical for a developed planet like Larson's Point. It could handle all sorts of ships, from the smaller hyperspace capable fighters, through shuttles, through orbital cargo lifters, up to the sub capital corvettes. Proper freighters, trade ships, naval warships stayed up in space. Once those came down to a planet, which was possible, they didn't tend to leave. Built in space, staying in space.<br /><br />"Here you go Charles. It looks like you have something on your mind, out with it bro." As Matt made his way back through the smoke to the private booth Charles had taken up residence at.<br />"After that meeting ? After what's been on the news lately ? Tonnes. Booth, privacy screen activate." Charles had invoked a rather standard feature in the Lonely Spaceman, a system that isolated them from the rest of the lounge. No observation was possible, either by visual means or recordings. Now you see why this bar was so popular with those who didn't necessarily want to have the authorities knowing all about their business.<br />"Matt, I'm worried. Sooner or later, this planet is going to blow. We're seeing it already with intolerance, some very strange politics, hell there's a general breakdown in the behaviour of people around here."<br />"Sure Charles, we saw some of that today as well. The board were definitely looking to protect their own interests even ahead of the company. They've never done that before, the company has always come first. But now ? They'll happily drive the company into the ground if they can retire, fat and happy on what the asset strippers will pay them for the shell of the company."<br />Matt looked up at this point, the first dawnings of comprehension that his friend might well be about to suggest something radical. Dangerous even. But definitely out of character.<br />Matt asked, intrigued, "You have a plan don't you. Go on, out with it ! And you're right too, the board will tear down what we built together. How come you let them in anyway ?"<br />"Aww Matt, you know that we're the builders and the movers ... all that corporate stuff is just downright boring." And, hiding a smile behind the glass holding his untouched drink Charles whispered in a conspiratorial tone "I have a plan."<br />"You're going to make beat it out of you aren't you. Come on ! I'm damn curious now."<br />"The next colony mission, I want you", pointing a finger, "Matt on it. With me. And we stay this time instead of running at the first sign of authority starting up."<br />"Yep. Setting up is fun, running the show is boring. Are you sure though ? Being the Man in charge is a huge step."<br /><br />The two directors of Larson's Point Colony Movers paused and looked at each other as if contemplating something so unpleasant, they would prefer a short spell in the New Snowdon Uranium mines. Nobody had long spells in the uranium mines. Even with the advent of biological prolong, which effectively ended ageing and 33rd century medicine which largely eliminated natural causes of ill health and death, there were occupations so dangerous that they were widely regarded as death sentences on a world where the death sentence had never been introduced.<br />However, Larson's Point was not a unified world, it had fractured shortly after establishment and some of the factions were, let's say, not as enlightened or forgiving as others. There was no death penalty but there were the mines where the unwanted might end up. Temporarily. And there were places around Larson's Star which were deadlier than the mines.<br /><br />Charles broke the silence with a sentence laden with foreboding, "Something is coming Matt, I can feel it." And the drink disappeared in one gulp.<br />"Gosh Charles, you are spooked ! Ok. I'm in, your instincts are always spot on, although there was that incident on Obsidian Rift." Matt chuckled, that twinkle in his eye shining all the way into a half smile. And a wink. <br />"Oh Matt ! What happened on Obsidian Rift, has to stay on Obsidian Rift. How was I to know she was a nephew ! I mean, I got nothing against gender fluid ... except if it's in the family."<br />"Haha, ayeaye Captain Admiral Charles. They had me fooled too. Besides, I think they were trying to drag you back to the rest of the family on Earth. You would have had to follow if it had got serious. True Earthers treat family ties like iron chains. And the mess they made of our old home ! So crowded. Earth is a dead hulk of a planet now, a shadow of what it was. The only thing living there now are the people and with True Earth Unity in charge, I'm not sure if they count as living."<br />It was now Matt's turn to down the remnants of his drink, as Charles saw a pair of particularly noticeable individuals at the bar.<br />"Another one Matt ? My round."<br /><br />Charles left his friend in the booth and made his own way through the scented atmosphere of the bar, stopping beside two figures, as conspicuous as the two men in suits. In their own way. One was short, with a clean crisp naval uniform. His eyes darted across the bar, simultaneously sizing up the denizens, evaluating whether they would be threats both in the bar and whether he would be facing them in space. The other was a very imposing figure. She also had the bearing that instantly identified her as military but in an effort to blend in had attempted to wear civilian dress. Clothing that apparently had been acquired in a rush, from a person 20 centimetres shorter and considerably less wide.<br />"Ken, Carrie, you had to murder anyone here yet ?"<br />The short man replied in a drawl that must have had its origins with the TexAm faction, "Hell Chuck, we've only been here 5 minutes ! I was getting worried about Hulk though. People round here are looking upwards at that outfit ..."<br />"Ken, one more word about this outfit and that pole you keep glancing at after looking at me ? I will bend that around your head." Commander Carrie "Hulk" Banso of the Naval Auxillary was not one to be taken lightly. Especially by tailors who were typically gripped with feelings of terror at seeing her walk into their shop in search of new dress uniforms.<br />"Chuck - two spacehoppers, whatever shortie is having and we're yours for an hour. Seriously, just an hour, we have to be back at Wellingrad before we're missed."<br />Charles passed the order onto the now very apprehensive barkeep. You see, if naval personnel entered the Lonely Spaceman, it usually ended with violence ... and breakages of furniture. Or violence and breaking of people. There was usually less fuss about the furniture and Carrie was starting to look at the people instead of the furniture. The party made their way back to Matt and the booth.<br /><br />"Matt, I brought friends. I think it's time."<br />Matt responded with "Your plan ? Let's have it then. I sense these two are involved ? The typical colony set up with an Auxillary ship as base and a Destroyer having far too much fun running around the system ?"<br />"Aye. Commander Ken Warner here is in charge of the LNV Dauntless, which is due to pay off in a year. It'll be his last command. Commander Carrie",<br />Carrie interjected with a "Just call me Hulk, babe, I don't bite."<br />Matt laughed, said "No biting huh ... I'm guessing that with a nickname like Hulk, you smash instead ?"<br />"I like this one. He can stay. Do we have to keep the Navy Pygmy though ?" There was a light chuckle from the giant, plus an actual half smile towards Commander Ken.<br />"Hey ! That's Commander Pygmy to you ! Or I'll call you Stoopy again." The look of feigned indignation from Ken drew a giggle from Hulk and relieved laughter from the two men in suits. There was to be no violence today. Perhaps.<br />Charles gave a quite cough before continuing, "Yes, Hulk of the LNA Star Rider, which is, you guessed it, due to pay off in a year."<br />"It is so convenient for us when ex Larson Navy Vessels and Larson Navy Auxiliary ships are about to pay off isn't it ? Older ships, still capable", Matt had noticed the knuckles of the two military personnel whiten as they tightened their grip on their spacehoppers. Navy people don't like the suggestion that their vessels might not be useful any more. Matt continued, "Ideal for our purposes actually. Still used, still maintained, usually with good systems, much better than pirates at least and ...."<br />".... Yes. We use the Destroyer to run around the system scaring off the pirates and setting up the space side infrastructure, while we land the Auxiliary and make her the centre of the colony. And you two are happy to join us ? We're not planning to bail out at the first sign of impending responsibility this time, we're staying."<br />A chorus of nods, accompanied sips of spacehoppers.<br />Matt was curious, "Say, what's in those spacehoppers, I've never actually had one."<br />Ken explained, "It's a traditional Navy drink. It's related to old Navy Rum from the old days. Legend has it that press gangs would descend upon a bar, offer a free round of the rum to everyone and then the locals who couldn't handle it would be carted off to a sailing ship and wake up in the Bay of Biscay, next stop Australia."<br />Hulk continued, "And now all the young, smart spacers have left, the old spacers are looking at the exits instead of us and the young, dumb, drunk spacers have been left in the middle as a target. We don't do pressgangs any more but .... Well, Larson Navy doesn't. I wouldn't say the same of those nutters over at New Holyhead. Either a pressganging onto one of their hulks they call frigates or ... the New Snowdon mines."<br />Charles laughed, "You know New Snowdon might be on the list of places to grab people from ?"<br />Matt nudged his friend, "You should be aware, this one is a bit of a risk taker with who he takes on board."<br />"Ahh, you start with a strong core, people you trust for skills, motivation, persistence, loyalty. You need investors as well, we try and get skills and motivation with them too. This planet has tonnes of money, you can usually afford to be choosy although you do need a certain amount of muscle around too."<br />"And your Colony Movers company foots the big bills and does the negotiations for ships like ours that you need ?", an interested Hulk said.<br />"Yes. We still need the company to actually make it happen. Usually, we'd land the colony, stay for 6 months and then come back to start preparations for the next. There is so much population pressure here that the Larson government, at least, help subsidise fairly constant emigration. But that's typically for flearidden rat trap setups that can't fend off pirates, or set up with an infrastructure that can't sustain itself. We move someone in, they stay."<br />Ken looked at his watch, "Hulk, we better get back to Wellingrad. You have to be back for repairs, I'm shipping out for patrol tomorrow. Chuck, you got an idea of where we'll go ?"<br />"As you happen to mention it ... there is an interesting looking system on your next patrol route. Goldilocks zone planet, normal 0.9g gravity, Nitrogen Oxygen atmosphere. That's what spectrograph tells us anyway. It could do with a proper survey. If you happen to find yourself there. I'll send the coordinates."<br />"Haha, I think I could find an excuse to find a new home to bounce around for a while. Maybe even set foot there, scope out my house, pick the best beachfront spot before you two reprobates and Hulk get a chance. Hulk will need the whole beach. OW !" Ken started to rub the sore rib that Carrie had just tested.<br />Charles stood, turned off the privacy field and said "That's great. It was fantastic catching up with you two again. And you bro. I'll see if I can get the barkeeps here to lay in an ample supply of Space Hoppers for next time."<br />The older spacers remaining in the bar started shuffling towards the exits at this point.<br /><br />And with this, the group of 4 departed the Lonely Spaceman and melted into the gathering gloom.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lTk5ktvZ1oQ/Vp08KnFE3ZI/AAAAAAAACuA/fETv7Lq97YAN2eqBxDxSxu11fsBK_W_3wCPcB/s1600/mQl1EKw4Q57V6KSqAweafxQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lTk5ktvZ1oQ/Vp08KnFE3ZI/AAAAAAAACuA/fETv7Lq97YAN2eqBxDxSxu11fsBK_W_3wCPcB/s1600/mQl1EKw4Q57V6KSqAweafxQ.jpg" /></a></div>That's enough for now I think !<br /><br />That would be an opening chapter perhaps after a prologue that saw these 4, plus assorted other characters actually departing. I'd see these meetings in the pub being interludes showing a tension gradually building before the leaving date happened. Perhaps even having a couple of elements of tension building in parallel. Danger before, danger after, with both dangers getting steadily getting more real as the story progresses.<br /><br />There would be lots more to come, as well as what I've written above. That's essentially a Vomit Draft, where the words come out of your head unedited and unpolished. Names would change, although I'd like to keep Ken and Carrie in there as tributes to Kenny Baker and Carrie Fisher.<br /><br />I'm curious as to what people think. Did you enjoy looking in on that meeting in the far off spacer bar ? Would you want to read more if I wrote the rest of the book ?Sleepypetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11143274290029186546noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17680747.post-53643056774296751302017-05-04T21:35:00.001+01:002017-05-04T21:43:46.913+01:00May the FourthAnd all that !<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eXoi2_qxyGg/WQuFpj6UKmI/AAAAAAAADvQ/K21xLjoz9O07FAKNmXtZkJEo8W6W3roeACLcB/s1600/May%2Bthe%2B4th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eXoi2_qxyGg/WQuFpj6UKmI/AAAAAAAADvQ/K21xLjoz9O07FAKNmXtZkJEo8W6W3roeACLcB/s400/May%2Bthe%2B4th.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>It's about the Star Wars thing but it's also a great excuse to wish people a happy day. How was mine ? Exhausting. Things are hectic at work at the moment, although that hectic is being combined with getting a few things done that have been held up. Always satisfying to clear awkward stuff out of the way.<br /><br />Bit like on certain games ....<br /><br />I loved the various Star Wars games I've played over the years but they were made in a time where games weren't quite so accessible to players ... To stretch out the content somewhat, they went in for incredibly challenging missions .... The main one I can think of for that is Star Wars X Wing where you had two missions like that :<br /><br />Scan an Imperial Fleet ! In an A Wing fighter that is pretty much made of rockets .... and paper. And you're being chased by TIE Fighters.<br />Disable a shuttle carrying prisoners to rescue ! Not so bad, except the shuttles liked to suicide on fighters which would be an instant mission fail.<br /><br />There were a lot of those instant fail conditions and it didn't necessarily come down to the player doing something wrong. But these games though ....<br /><br />XWing was the first and was one I came back to later. It was playable on quite early PCs. The legend was that XWing sold more 486 processor PCs than any amount of the business software the machines were intended for. It brought starfighter combat to a world of gamers that previously could only play things like this in arcades. (Or on the BBC micro playing Elite).<br /><br />I was highly addicted to the TIE Fighter game which followed, which had you working as a small cog in the big Galactic Empire. You got to fly with Darth Vader in your wing at one point and one of the missions was to protect the Emperor's shuttle.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jyjRIGSmQBU/WQuJozxc6HI/AAAAAAAADvc/mg1C7lyRpFETRXBYPGjADM8sW94zjKJWgCLcB/s1600/4fb5a56f259d4142143cad0306e40ad1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jyjRIGSmQBU/WQuJozxc6HI/AAAAAAAADvc/mg1C7lyRpFETRXBYPGjADM8sW94zjKJWgCLcB/s320/4fb5a56f259d4142143cad0306e40ad1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Yep. Emperor.<br /><br />I gave up on the XWing and TIE Fighter games after a while as the missions became more and more intricate and silly. They kinda offended my sense of strategy by just having stupid setups. TIE Fighter got it right by having a storyline that effectively showed how the pressures of a long term deployment wore down the squadrons. Like having to use Bombers because the Fighters and Interceptors were either destroyed or needing repairs. In XWing vs TIE Fighter's campaign, the end mission sent starfighters into an anti-fighter minefield to attack a space station. This was from a Super Star Destroyer that would have pounded the station to dust from outside the minefield.<br /><br />Yeah - the games got to be more frustrating than fun.<br /><br />It was similar with other games like Star Wars Rebellion (or Supremacy - it had multiple names) which I hoped would take over from Master of Orion 2 - they were both space strategy games. However .... it was just BORING ! And there isn't usually much comeback if a game is boring like that.<br /><br />I played other Star Wars games too, although not actually all of them. I'll almost certainly get Empire at War again, it's another strategy game and at £3.50ish it's worth another look.<br /><br />I really enjoyed the Pod Racer game. It was fast and fun. It hasn't been re-released though and it would need some work to make it playable again. It came out when Windows XP was still a thing and it has amnesia when you run it on Windows 7 (couldn't find the save games). I've seen a possible way around that though. Worth a shot.<br /><br />I also enjoyed Knights of the Old Republic. This was a role playing game set 4,000 years before the films and instead of being a straight shooter, it owed a lot to translating D&amp;D rules to something that looked real time and it did a great job both with that and the story.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_Z7jMYBpCeY/WQuMcV_u-yI/AAAAAAAADvo/E9C_DZTUrys93UuEH7Av1nhormqkoKvtQCLcB/s1600/cat-star-wars-lasers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_Z7jMYBpCeY/WQuMcV_u-yI/AAAAAAAADvo/E9C_DZTUrys93UuEH7Av1nhormqkoKvtQCLcB/s320/cat-star-wars-lasers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Spectacular too.<br /><br />I played the first Star Wars shooter game too - Dark Forces. I quite enjoyed that, although I didn't bother with any of the sequels.<br /><br />I still have Lego Star Wars unplayed and on my system !<br /><br />(If you want to indulge the nostalgia for the Star Wars games, there are offers on right now on Humble Bundle and GoG for the old games)<br /><br />Oh and the Lego too. There are offers here as well in several places. However .... there's not much I want to buy at the moment in the Star Wars !<br /><br />I know. Tragic.<br /><br />I would heavily recommend the black X Wing and the Falcon. Not so much the Tie Advanced. You like your Lego to look like the original ! I didn't get that so much with the TIE. But it's definitely there with Falcon and X Wing.<br /><br />It's not all about the merch though. Ok. Maybe it is ... Lucas created a universe that was great for selling lots of Stuff and everyone with that merch takes every opportunity to try and get us buying more of it ... There is a lot of fun in there though.<br /><br />And I am having severe temptations for dropping some cash on that Empire At War game !<br /><br />May the Fourth be with you. Today and every day.<br /><br />One last thing though .... I need to go back into Elite at some point. Soon. A new megaship was added to the game in the last update with a unique name and Commanders have been making a pilgrimage to this special place.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qN_R3rTtSFM/WQuSYc1KiaI/AAAAAAAADv4/p5J0K2ZK1aQmFUkjPsRsc5rXfek4SiSBQCLcB/s1600/18199301_10212913548733411_2104297054410554790_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qN_R3rTtSFM/WQuSYc1KiaI/AAAAAAAADv4/p5J0K2ZK1aQmFUkjPsRsc5rXfek4SiSBQCLcB/s320/18199301_10212913548733411_2104297054410554790_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Yep. I too need to have my spaceship clinging on to the side of the Fisher's Rest. Sleepypetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11143274290029186546noreply@blogger.com0